Athos Holy Mount

Athonite Paper Icons	4.12 St Marina 1858 Collection of Simonopetra Monastery Obverse of a double-sided engraved copperplate 35 x 24 cm Engraved on Mount Athos Engraver: Euthymios, hierodeacon
	Inscriptions: Centred, upper border: 'Χ(Ε)ΙΡ Ε(Υ)Θ(Υ)ΜΙΟΥ Ι(Ε)Ρ(Ο)Δ(ΙΑ)Κ(ΟΝ)ΟΥ' (By the hand of Euthymios, hierodeacon), and lower border: 1858. St Marina firmly grasps an anthropomorphic monster by the hair, while her raised right hand holds a hammer with which she is preparing to strike the demon. The creature's terrible visage is shown from the side, with its great pointed tongue sticking out from among its razor-sharp teeth. It has horns, wings on its shoulders and talons for hands and feet, while its distorted limbs are strangely supplied with eyes. Behind the saint is an imposing stone building representing her prison, and from the top left corner of the picture the hand of God is extended in blessing. Although the saint is shown in a realistic stance, with her body slightly bent and her robe fluttering in the wind, her serene, almost smiling face is inappropriate to the dramatic nature of the scene. St Marina lived in the third century, was imprisoned young and then martyred for her faith. According to her Life, the episode depicted here occurred when a ferocious ogre entered her prison cell. God armed her with a hammer with which she slew the beast. The subject occurs in two more works which follow the iconography of this engraving.
	Bibliography: Unpublished.
	H.I.S.
	Index of exhibits of Monastery of Simonopetra 19th century

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