E00559: Greek epigram by Agathias Scholastikos, probably originally an inscription, referring to a wax-painted image of *Michael the Archangel (S00181) in Constantinople, and describing the depiction of an angel as an act of daring, which can induce spiritual gain. Written in the late 6th c., and recorded in the 10th c. Greek Anthology.

Greek Anthology, Book 1 (Christian Epigrams), 34

ΑΓΑΘΙΟΥ ΣΧΟΛΑΣΤΙΚΟΥ

εἰς τὸν αὐτὸν ἐν Πλάτῃ

Ἄσκοπον ἀγγελίαρχον, ἀσώματον εἴδεϊ μορφῆς,
ἆ μέγα τολμήεις, κηρὸς ἀπεπλάσατο.
ἔμπης οὐκ ἀχάριστον, ἐπεὶ βροτὸς εἰκόνα λεύσσων
θυμὸν ἀπιθύνει κρέσσονι φαντασίῃ·
οὐκέτι δ᾽ ἀλλοπρόσαλλον ἔχει σέβας, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν ἑαυτῷ
τὸν τύπον ἐγγράψας ὡς παρεόντα τρέμει·
ὄμματα δ᾽ ὀτρύνουσι βαθὺν νόον· οἶδε δὲ τέχνη
χρώμασι πορθμεῦσαι τὴν φρενὸς εἰκασίην.


'Agathias Scholastikos

On the same [an image of the Archangel Michael] in Platē

Wax has moulded like a figure - oh for daring! - the invisible chief of the angels, although he is bodiless! And yet it is not without grace, for a mortal looking on the image directs his spirit to higher contemplation. He no longer has an indefinite devotion, but, engraving the image in himself, he reveres it as if it were real. The eyes trigger deep thinking, and art can sail imagination by its colours.'


Text: Paton and Tueller 2014. Translation: Efthymios Rizos.