Painted Icon, Double Triptych

The Ethiopian church’s strong link to Eastern Orthodox Christianity can be seen in the use of icons. The figures are motionless in posture as in Byzantine art, but they have Ethiopian features.

One central panel of this icon shows the Virgin and Child flanked by the archangels Gabriel and Michael. The left panel depicts Saint George slaying the dragon, above, and Takla Haymonat and Ewostatewas, two local saints, below. On the right panel, the Resurrection is represented as Christ releasing Adam and Eve from Limbo.

The opposite central panel portrays Christ wearing a crown of thorns and being mocked before Pontius Pilate. Below are the husband and wife who commissioned the icon. The upper part of the panel on the right shows a local saint, Abo, with a dove and pairs of lions and leopards. The lower part depicts the entombment of Christ.