The Queen's skin is painted with reddish-brown paint. She's facing forward & is dressed in golden royal robes with intricate circular designs studded with different coloured jewels and wearing brown shoes. She's also wearing a golden crown with two horn-like designs on either side, pointing outwards & a central piece with a cross on top. The crown is studded with different coloured gems. She has long black hair locks reaching to her shoulders & is holding a golden, gem-studded scepter topped with a crucifix in one hand & an embroidered handkerchief in the other hand, in the style of Byzantine court women. Next to the queen is the Virgin Mary standing taller & is also facing forward. She's wearing black robes covered in circular designs & black shoes. She's wearing a dome-shaped, gem studded golden crown with two crosses in front & a cross on top of the crown. She has a light-greenish halo around her head. She has one hand resting on the Queen's shoulder in blessing & is carrying the Child Jesus in her other arm while holding an embroidered handkerchief similar to the one Queen Martha is holding. The Child Jesus is dressed in a white tunic & has reddish hair. He has a cruciform halo behind his head painted in a light-greenish colour. He has one arm pointing downwards, holding an eye-shaped object painted in red (perhaps symbolizing the earth or underworld). His other arm is pointing upwards while holding an eye-shaped object painted dark blue with a white border & white stars inside it (perhaps symbolizing the sky or heavens).The skin of both Jesus & the Virgin are painted white in contrast to Queen Martha's brown skin.
Painting of Queen Martha of Dotawo (Makuria) w/ Virgin Mary touching her shoulder while holding Jesus as a child / 11th C. AD
Analysis of Greek text accompanying the painting in the Old Nubian script below.
#Dotawo #Makuria #NubianChristianArt #NubianArt #MedievalArt #AfricanArt #ByzantineGreek
