The identity of basilissa and despot on the tombstone in the church of Saint Theodora, Arta


Published: Aug 4, 2017
Keywords:
13th century Byzantine sculpture relief pseudosarcophagus Ηosia Theodora despot Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas Anna Komnenodoukaina Palaiologina Epirus Arta.
Μυρτάλη ΑΧΕΙΜΑΣΤΟΥ-ΠΟΤΑΜΙΑΝΟΥ (Myrtali ACHEIMASTOU-POTAMIANOU)
Abstract
The pseudosarcophagus on the tomb of Hosia Theodora presents special interest as concerns the identity of the figures of the Basilissa and Despot of Arta depicted on it. Discussion regarding their identification as the basilissa-nun Theodora Doukaina and her son Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas, and in a recent interpretation as Anna Komnenodoukaina Palaiologina as regent and her son Thomas (shortly after 1296) leads to the former view. The evidence adduced from the Vita of Hosia Theodora, which throws considerable light on the meaning of this rare (for a tombstone) iconographic composition (probably datable to 1282/83-1296), would tend to support this view.
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