Portrait of Anna of Byzantium

This image presents Anna of Byzantium, a historical figure whose path led from the Byzantine court to Kievan Rus. The painted portrait of the woman is set in a round frame with a wreath of leaves. She wears an ornate headdress, a drop earring and several strands of beads around her neck. Below, her name and the years 963–1011 are written in Russian.

She was the daughter of Emperor Romanos and the wife of Grand Prince Vladimir, and her mother was of Armenian origin. Anna played a key role in the spread of Christianity in Rus. Her faith and education built a bridge between Byzantium, Armenian culture and Rus.