Odigitria

...Icons that performed miracles were spoken of, and icons that were not made by human hands (achiropiitos), that is, icons that were manifested by the power of God, were revered. As shown by the odigitria (meaning "guiding woman") and eleusa (meaning "mercy") types of Madonna and Child icons, iconographic types became more and more subdivided in response to the diversification of theological regulations and meanings, and the established types formed strong traditions. In addition to this original meaning of faith, icons, as a painting style unique to Byzantine culture, underwent a rich artistic development in response to murals and illuminated manuscript illustrations.

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "odigitria" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…数々の奇跡をもたらすイコンが語られ，〈人の手によらない(アヒロピイトスachiropiitos)イコン〉つまり神の力によって顕わされたイコンがあがめられた。またいわゆる聖母子図像におけるオディギトリアodigitria(〈導く女〉の意)型やエレウサeleusa(〈憐れみ〉の意)型などが示すように，神学上の規定や意義の多様化に対応して，図像の型の細分化が進み，定められた型は強固な伝統を形成していった。こうした信仰上の本義のかたわら，イコンはビザンティン文化独特の絵画形式として，壁画や装飾写本挿絵などと呼応しながら，豊かな芸術的展開を遂げるのである。…

※「odigitria」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報