From Deiform to Sanctified Humanism: The "Reconciliation" (?) of Ancient Greek and Byzantine Art in the Work of Kostas Papaioannou

Περίληψη

This article examines how the philosopher Kostas Papaioannou processes the divergence and simultaneous reconciliation of Hellenism and Christianity within the field of art, primarily through his three aesthetic studies: Art and Civilization in Ancient Greece, Byzantine and Russian Painting, and Alexander's Legacy. The author argues that Papaioannou identifies a common denominator between these traditions in their "materials"—pure humanity and absolute divinity—which merge harmoniously in both the ancient Greek statue and the Byzantine icon. The study categorizes Papaioannou’s observations into three distinct points: the transition from ancient naturalism and deiform humanism to Byzantine mysticism and sanctified humanism; the shift from the impersonal nature of classical sculpture to the awakened subjectivity of the iconographic gaze; and the historical boundary where Byzantine art begins to encounter Western psychological realism. Ultimately, Papaioannou views Byzantine art not as a simple continuation, but as a "reconciliation" that allowed Hellenism to realize new spiritual possibilities through the "graft" of Christianity.