GATE TO GREECE >
Athens >
Places to Visit in Athens >
Byzantine Athens >
Kaisariani Monastery 2
The central apse of the Katholikon of Kaisariani Monastery. On the half-dome were Mary the Mother of God with infant Jesus in her bosom. Painted probably in the 18th century.
The central apse with screen. The two Ionian capitals are from the Roman period, so are probably the columns.
The Katholikon is built on cross plan and four columns support the central dome.
The dome over the central nave. The Christ Pantokrator was painted in the 18th century.
Below are the wall paintings of the narthex
The inscription above the entrance of the narthex tells us that the fresco paintings of the narthex was painted by Ioannes Hypatos from Peloponnese with the fund provided by the rich Athenian citizen, Nikolaos Venizelos in late 17th century (1682). Probably this narthex itself, added in the 17th century, was constructed by Venizelos.
The fresco of the nave was painted by a different painter probably in the 18th century, but the most of it was destroyed.
Reference
* Molly Mackenzie,
Turkish Athens, The Forgotten Centuries 1456-1832, Reading/ Ithaca Press 1992.
* Robin Barbar,
Greece (Blue Guide), London- N.Y. 2001 (Revised reprint of the 6th edition of 1995), pp. 125-26.
* Guide Boards on Site.
