Steatite with Saints Theodore, George and Demetrius, Byzantine, Cherson, Crimea, 12th Century




A larger image of this Steatite with Saints Theodore, George and Demetrius, Byzantine, Cherson, Crimea, 12th Century

Saints Theodore, George and Demetrius. 12th cent. Steatite. Cherson.
George in the centre wears full lamellar protection, Theodore Stratelates a klivanion over mail, while Demetrius is in chainmail. The first two hold a spear while Demetrius a remarkably long and broad sword. All of them have almond shaped shields.
Source: protostrator



Referenced on p15 Byzantine Armies 886-1118 by Ian Heath & Angus McBride
Military saints (Theodore now joins George and Demetrius) equipped as horsemen of the early 12th century. Theodore, on the left, wears a klibanion over his mail corselet; George, in the centre, wears a klibanion with pteruges at shoulder and waist; and Demetrius has now changed into a knee-length mail lorikion with elbow-length sleeves. All three have kite-shields.



Steatite icon with three military saints; Byzantine (Constantinople?), 12th century.
St Theodore Stratelates is shown on the left, St George in the centre, and St Demetrios on the right. 17.5 x 13.4 x 0.8cm.
Held by the Natsional'nyi Zapovidnik "Khersones Tavriis'kyi", Sevastopil', Ukraine (Inv. no. 84/36 445).
Source: Evans, H.C. and Wixom, W.D. (eds) The Glory of Byzantium. Art and Culture of the Middle Byzantine Era AD 843-1261, New York 1997, p. 300-01, fig. 203.



Other resources for Byzantines:
Skylitzes Chronicle, Byzantine Italy, 11th-12th Centuries
Plates depicting the Byzantine folk hero, Digenis Akritas, 12th century
Other Byzantine Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers