Jesus Embroidery found in Russia🪡🧵
Found in a Medieval Russian burial ground, this embroidery fragment depicts the Deesis, a traditional iconic Byzantine and later Eastern Orthodox representation of Christ in Majesty or Christ Pantocrator.
The Deesis layout has Christ in the center of St John the Baptist to Christ's left and the Virgin Mary to his right. Christ is usually enthroned, holding a book in his left hand and raising the right hand in gesture of blessing. You can sort of make it out here. A praying St John can also be deduces but the other figure likely Mary, on the other side, has been lost. Archeologists believe this fabric was part of a headdress from sometime between the 13th and 15th century.
As someone who dabbles in various mediums of art - painting, illustration, leather work and even embroidery, I find it particularly fascinating to hear about and see even the smallest pieces of surviving textiles from the medieval period let alone even older eras.
