Object ID
2006.31.5
Object Name
Icon
Object Entities
Demetrakakes, Angela (is related to)
Demetrius, Saint (is related to)
Dimitrios, (is related to)
Dimitrius, (is related to)
Lyaeos, Gladiator (is related to)
Object Description
FRAMED PAPER ICON OF ST. DEMETRIOS, GOLD WOOD FRAME W/ GLASS.

The image is focused on two figures. The first is of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki. He rides on top of a red horse, and is actively stabbing a spear into the second figure. Demetrius is wearing a blue tunic, with gold breast plating on his chest, a red cape of sorts, green tights and brown Grecian/Roman sandals. The second figure is Gladiator Lyaeos. He wears a red tunic, gold breast plating, a gold cap with a red tassle, a green cape, and Greek/Roman sandals. They are both on top of a dirt/gravel environment. In the background is a body of water with town buildings and mountains on the other side of it. In small black text over Saint Demetrius and slightly to the left, is written, "Sacred (or Saint) Demetrius" in Greek text.
Origin
Saint Demetrius was born in the year 270 A.D. and died in the year 306 A.D. Thessalomiki suffered repeated attacks from Slavic peoples who moved into the Balkans. St. Demetrius, being the patron saint of the city, was credited with miraculous interventions to defend the city. So, later traditions depict him as a soldier of the Roman army and a military martyr. He was the patron saint of the Crusades, along with Saint George.

St. Demetrius is often shown spearing the Gladiator Lyaeos, who according to story, was responsible for killing many Christians. In traditional hagiography (the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders), Demetrius did not directly kill Lyaeos, but rather through his prayers, the gladiator was defeated by Demetrius' disciple, Nestor. The king at the time was an enemy of Christ and enjoyed employing this Gladiator, Lyaeos. Lyaeos was famous for being willing to fight anyone who came forth. After a long time of Lyaeos continuously killing everyone who faced him, less and less people volunteered to fight him. So the king began to arrest Christians, and then forced them to face the ruthless gladiator. Being strongly affected by the mass killings of Christians, Nestor went to Demetrius in jail for a blessing in order to help him defeat Lyaeos. Demetrius blessed him, and with that blessing, Nestor defeated Lyaeos. At this doing, the king ordered Nestor to be killed and for Demetrius to be speared to death.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Icon, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/11501. Accessed 04/26/24.