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Chora monastery (Kariye Camii)
Author(s) : Moutafov Emmanuel (8/2/2008)Translation : Andriopoulou Vera (31/10/2008)
For citation: Moutafov Emmanuel, "Chora monastery (Kariye Camii)", 2008,Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World, ConstantinopleURL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=11767>
ENTRY TYPE
General
SUMMARY
The Chora Monastery was built on the sixth hill of Constantinople, about 150m. from the Theodosian wall. It was dedicated to Christ as the Life-giving Saviour and to Mary as the container of life. It is one of the most significant examples of Byzantine art, its architecture representing the Middle Byzantine period and the decoration representing the Late Byzantine period. The exceptional, elegant mosaics and frescoes of the Chora monastery are characteristic of the second phase of the Palaiologan Renaissance. The gracefulness of the shapes, the colours and the depiction of apocryphal traditions render this monument unique.
Topographical Location
Sixth hill of Constantinople, mod. Edirnekapı district in Istantbul
Geographical Location
Constantinople, Istanbul
Date
11th century: architecture, 14th century: decoration
1. General Information
2. Location - Name
3. History of the building
4. Presentation of the monument
4.1. The architectural type of the katholikon
4.2. The decoration of the Chora monastery
4.3. The iconography
5. Artistic technique
6. Other works
6.1. Deesis
6.2. Christological and Mariological scenes
7. Evaluation
8. The name of the monument: symbolism
8.1. Land of the Living, Container of the Uncontainable
8.2. Monastery of the Land of the Living, of the Uncontainable
8.3. The Theotokos as chora – Christ as chora
8.4. Interpretation
Entry's identity
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