Dome

Frontal view of the south wall and transept, the transept as dormer window, detail; The large complex of the monastery of the Brontochion occupies the northernmost corner of the Lower Town and served as a cultural centre and burial place of the despots. It has two churches, Hagioi Theodoroi and the Hodegetria, also known as Aphentiko. Hagioi Theodoroi combines a cruciform plan with a domed octagon. According to an inscription, it was built ca. 1290-1295. Only poorly preserved fragments of the original wall paintings have survived. They reveal four zones of painting: the topmost zone depicts scenes from the Passion and the Resurrection; the zone below showed another group of scenes, of which only the archangel of the Annunciation and fragments from the Life of the Virgin are preserved; the third zone has a procession of full-length, larger than life-size military saints; and the lowest zone (h. c. 1 m from floor level) is painted with imitation marble veneer. These wall paintings are reminiscent of those in the north aisle of Hagios Demetrios, and are executed in a free manner with warm colours; the shading of the faces is green, and the figures, especially those of the military saints, are strong and full of vitality. The church has four funerary chapels; the north-east chapel contains representations of an emperor, probably Manuel II Palaiologos (reigned 1391-1425), while the south-east chapel has portraits of two noblemen wearing conical hats that are among the most interesting paintings in Mystras. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.oxfordartonline.com/ (accessed 7/17/2008)