Wall Painting with Christ and a Nubian Dignitary

Christ holds a book in his left hand, raising his right in a gesture of blessing to protect a young man. While Christ wears a Byzantine-style chiton (tunic) and a himation (cloak), the young man is dressed in typical garments worn by Nubian rulers, with a characteristic flared robe, a sash, and a crown with a half-moon. On his chest hangs an encolpion, a cross medallion with an icon. The Greek inscription accompanying the painting suggests that the ruler’s name may have been Aaron. Nubian artists often depicted biblical figures with yellow and white paint and contemporary figures with shades of brown. We do not know why the Nubian artist decided to mark color difference in their paintings.