CHIOS’ BYZANTINE MUSEUM (Medjitie Mosque)
The
Byzantine Museum in Chios is contained within the 19th Century Ottoman
mosque which is located in the central town square.
This museum has been in operation since 1980 and contains items
that were donated from collections as well as findings discovered in local
excavations. The dates of the
items on display range from the Early Christian period to the post-Byzantine
period (5th – 18th century).
The
museum is comprised of a timber-roofed porch, a large basement and a main
room. Currently, the mosque
porch and the courtyard are only open to the public.
The remaining portion is still under renovation.
The
courtyard displays stone objects discovered during excavations as well as
tombstones from Muslim and Jewish graves.
There is a significant collection of sculptures dated during the
Genoese occupation of Chios between 1345-1566 which serves as evidence of
the period. Worthwhile items
included in this collection are the sarcophagus of Ottuboni Ioustiniani
located in the courtyard next to the stairway as well as two large slabs
from lintels with carvings of Aghios Georghios (St. George) slaying
a dragon displayed on the porch. At
least one item was brought from Genoa.
On
the right side of the courtyard, canons made from iron and brass are on
display. They were taken from
the bastions of the Castle (Fortress) of Chios whilst it has been
determined that two of the canons were constructed in 1687 and 1689,
respectively. A third canon
is from France since it has the coat of arms of the kings of France
inscribed.
Also
contained in the porch are column capitals of the 6th century AD, an
iconostasis closure slab, impost blocks of double half-columns with
crosses and other objects that belong to the various churches of Chios.
The wall-paintings that were detached from the Byzantine church of
Panaghia Krina (dated late 12th century) are also on display.
The painter Michael Chomatzas executed in 1734 these wall paintings.
The most important items of the present exhibition include:
Post-Byzantine icons
A
mural by Michael Chomatzas dated 1734 which depicts three girls
sleeping. This is a scene
from the miracles of Aghios Nikolaos (St. Nicholas).
The mural belongs to the church of Panaghia Krina.
