Nicopeia
Sign in to savethumb|Example in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Nicopeia (sometimes transliterated Nikopoia, Nikopea or Nikopeia; literally 'bringer of victory', from ) is a title of the Virgin Mary and a type of icon in Byzantine art showing Mary frontally, seated on a throne and holding the Christ Child in her arms. A conceptually similar idea in the Western Church is Our Lady of Victory. It is similar to the Theotokos Kyriotissa (enthroned Madonna) and the Tuscan 'Maestà'.
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- titles of Mary, mother of Jesus
- Subclass of
- Madonna
- Country
- Italy
- Country of origin
- Byzantine Empire
- Depicts
- Jesus
- Location
- St Mark's Basilica
- Image
- Nicopeia.jpg
Show 2 more facts
- inception
- 1200-00-00
- Commons category
- Nicopeia
via Wikidata · CC0
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Encyclopedic overview
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thumb|Example in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Nicopeia (sometimes transliterated Nikopoia, Nikopea or Nikopeia; literally 'bringer of victory', from ) is a title of the Virgin Mary and a type of icon in Byzantine art showing Mary frontally, seated on a throne and holding the Christ Child in her arms. A conceptually similar idea in the Western Church is Our Lady of Victory. It is similar to the Theotokos Kyriotissa (enthroned Madonna) and the Tuscan 'Maestà'.
The title derives from the belief that Mary would defeat Byzantium's enemies. The type was considered as the protector of the state and of the army and was similarly honoured to the Hodegetria. It was carried as a banner and hung at the gates of Constantinople.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Nicopeia” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.