Image: Irina ( Pala d'Oro) (cropped)

Description: Byzantine Empress Irene (image from "Pala d'Oro", Venice). As there were many Empresses by the name of Irene, scholars believe that she was Irene Doukaina. See study here. The inscription says "ΕΙΡΗΝΗ ΕΥΣΕΒΕΣΤΑΤΗ ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΗ" (IRENE MOST-RESPECTED AUGUSTI Augustus in female form), not offering any other clue. The enamel of the empress is paired with a plaque similar in size depicting Doge Ordelaffo Falier (both flanking an image of Mary, the mother of God), see in File:Venezia, pala d'oro, madonna tra i donatori irene e l'imperatore Giovanni II Comneno, trasformato nel doge Ordelaffo Falier.JPG, which scholars believe was put in later, replacing the original image of Alexios I Komnenos whose was was Irene Doukaina or alternatively their son John II Komnenos. There is no technical evidence for these attributions, even though this view is widely accepted in literature. It is only clear that the image of an empress would not be paired with the image of a doge, but with one of the emperor. Possibly also empress regnant Irene of Athens (r. 797-802) - see talk
Title: Irina ( Pala d'Oro) (cropped)
Credit: http://kotlovka.ru/pgalery/displayimage.php?pid=5237&fullsize=1 (defunct)
Author: AnonymousUnknown author
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No