Byzantine Art History

I just submitted my art history post. This is the picture I chose to discuss.

This icon, called “The Harrowing of Hell,” comes from the Katholicon (cathedral) of the Monastery of Hosios Lukas. Circa 1020, it appears to be original to the building, which is dated to around 1011. While the word “harrowing” usually is a synonym to distressing or agonizing, its root “harrow” is an archaic word meaning to plunder or sack. It appears that the title of this icon refers to the latter, archaic meaning. Here, Christ, through the power of his cross, is plundering hell of her victims, one of which he holds by the wrist. This is symbolic of the belief that, without Christ, all would endure the agonies of hell, and that people are only saved from hell through the redeeming power of Christ. Here, Christ is holding a Byzantine “three bar cross.” The upper bar is the wooden plaque that had the criminal accusation written on it, in three languages: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” The middle bar is too narrow in this icon to function in its original purpose. It is stylized, representing a wider bar that his outstretched arms had been nailed to. The bottom bar was for his feet. More modern likenesses of the crucifixion show Christ’s feet overlapping, with a single nail fixing them to the upright bar behind him, but the early icons had a bar for his feet. In this image, Christ is not victim of the cross, but master of it. His pose is similar to a hiker with a walking stick or a wizard with his staff. The cross is now his instrument of power. To the left are two holy persons, identified by the halos around their heads. They are less holy, however, than Christ, and therefore appear smaller to us. This is similar to the ancient Egyptian tradition of drawing the servants and warriors much smaller than pharaohs or gods. They stand to the right of Christ symbolizing that they have now come into his favor and may reside with him in Paradise. To Christ’s left, then, appears hell. One humble, kneeling figure has his arm outstretched, which is now held by Christ. He is in the act of rescuing this man from hell. Another man, clean-shaven, (or is it a woman?) stands, beginning to stretch forth his arm, which is concealed under his cloak. He looks uncertainly at Christ, as though wondering if he, too, will be plundered away from hell.
Citations
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, fourth edition
The Holy Bible, King James Version http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/bevans/Art101/Art101B-2-MiddleByzantine/WebPage-Full.00004.html