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'^
BYZTINTIUM
mo
BOOKS
LIFE
WORLD LIBRARY
LIFE
NATURE LIBRARY
THE
LIFE
LIFE
SCIENCE LIBRARY
OF ART
TIME-LIFE LIBRARY OF
AMERICA
BYZ7I NTI
UM
by
PHILIP
SHERRARD
and
The
Editors of
TIME-LIFE
BOOKS
THE AUTHOR:
on Byzantium,
London University in modern Greek literature and held
a research fellowship at Oxford University. His major publications include Athos,
the Mountain of Silence; Constantinople: Iconography of a Sacred City; and The
Greek East and the Latin West. He now lives with his Greek wife in Athens,
where he has served as the Assistant Director of the British School of Archaeology.
Philip Sherrard, a distinguished English authority
Leonard Krieger,
now
is
the author of
co-author of
THE COVER:
St.
TIME-LIFE
Church
BOOKS
GREAT AGES OF
SERIES EDITOR: Russell
EDITOR
Maitland A. Edey
Martin
Text Editors:
Korn
TEXT DIRECTOR
Designer:
Sheldon Cotler
Bourne
Byzantium:
Beatrice T. Dobie
Staff Writers:
Field,
Mason
Harold C.
Frankel
Norman Snyder
PICTURE EDITOR
Assistartt
MAN
CHIEF OF RESEARCH
Robert C.
pic-
ART DIRECTOR
Mann
is
in Greece.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Jerry
Loukas
of Hosios
Ogden Tanner
Kaye
Neil,
Theo
Arlene Zuckerman
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION
PUBLISHER
Rhett Austell
Assistant: James
Copy
Jr.
Manley
McSweeney
Littles
Traffic:
Pellegrini
preparing this book was given by Dmitri Kessel, Life staff photographer; the Chief of the
in
Young
Valuable aid
L.
Cox
Staff:
J.
News
Service, Richard
Ann Natanson
Byzantium
of the
Time
Inc.
Aloisi (Par-
1966 Time
Published simultaneously
Inc.
in
number 66-28334.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
THE
1
2
3
NEW ROME
Picture Essay:
PRESERVING A HERITAGE
Picture Essay:
30
A CAPITAL OBSERVED
41
CHRONICLE OF AN EMPIRE
Picture Essay:
BASIL
THE MAGNIFICENT
4
5
Picture Essay:
Picture Essay:
fT THE
19
CONSTANTINE'S CITY
lo
TECHNIQUES OF
63
74
WAR
83
92
A PICTURE-BOOK CHURCH
ROUND OF BYZANTINE
101
LIFE
ni
A GLITTERING CULTURE
Picture Essay:
TRADITIONS OF BEAUTY
145
STRONGHOLDS OF BYZANTIUM
Chronologies, 183
Bibliography, credits and art notes, 186
Acknowledgments, 187
Index, 188
171
NTRODUCTION
What was
historical unit?
The
what was
reader
even find
will
a thing as a
that
it
who
made
its
it
no simple answers. He
never was such
let
What was
empire?
the Byzantine
lived,
some provincial
re-
ferred to
its
not have
was
was
tellectual activity
without
that culture
The
life,
was, in
mod-
gin.
So
is
of comparatively
to those
who
dwelled within
which
refers.
it
Nor
a visitor
if
in the final
many
elements. Christianity
unknown
its
itself,
surrounded by ceremonial.
And
Eastern features of
phase of the
Roman
Empire.
tianity
capital
from
It
Rome
Byzantium early
to
and
it
its
its
in the
his
Fourth
western provinces,
perpetuated without
ture
the
Byzantine
empire
much
that
was Roman
it
in
its
character,
continuation of the
it
Roman
actually
in the world.
impressive political
for over a
it
ideology, gov-
An
underwent
subsequently
surrounding bar-
and so made
the
civilized
nations out of
The
aissance.
them. At
which served
cultural influence of
Byzantium was
worldwide.
It
cal
is
organism and as
of culture,
that
the
what general,
that
is
matter dictated
which he
further study.
does that,
it
If
will
politi-
style in
Byzantium passed on
tianity,
in ori-
too, as the
Oriental
its
which they
result,
in
of the
first
Hellenistic monarchies
pire.
continued
It
site
origin,
minimum.
em
at a
in a
units, in-
when,
writes,
is
If
in
someby
the
The stimulating
the reading of
have achieved
its
this
book indeed
purpose.
PETER CHARANIS
Voorhees Professor of History, Rutgers. The State University.
New
Jersey
tmrm^mmriiiiu
iniiiu hi
mmmmm
^.
>;Jt
^'<1"
-t-
Ctij^^^i'^'^'^"-
Western
civilization relegated to a
of the
human
record.
lasted
It
is
and
more than
vast empire
cultural
brilliant
entity
that
According
tion
had
its
Western
lay
itself
the
impressive
NEW ROME
if
civiliza-
Minoan
THE
civiliza-
Crete. But
it
was
in
and cultural
civil
we now
specifically
recognize as
that
life
The
Western.
city-
dif-
he had conquered.
It
of
was only
rule,
Western
Roman
the consolidation of
the
civilization for
time
first
Rome
ab-
York
in Britain to
from
stretched
was an Empire
it
some
five centuries,
Clovis,
other parts of
empire
the
in
the
Italy
and
West. Rome's
its
history
known
as the
Dark Ages.
The next
Western
great phase in
civilization
is
this
general
view of
"rediscovery
of the ancient
many
"
of the literature
and
art
for so
more im-
of Byzantium's
Although
letters
their
names
on Greeksome Cyrillic
largely
shown
are
alpha
is
used
original 43 letters.
its
in
33
to
letters.
illiteracy,
delta
epsilon
zeta
eta
theta
an
to
KE
az
buki, vedi
glagol'
dobro
yest'
zemlya
invention.
ple
of
scheme
of things, there
strange kind
is
Roman
world
Not even
is
Renaissance
rise of
supposed
The
Italy.
have suffered an
to
civi-
eclipse.
any
assumed
1400
consequence.
It is
all
cultural
it
is
that
arts
came
life,
from 400
and
to
and
sciences,
in-
to a halt.
is
may
Most
For be-
the Renaissance
way
striking
brilliant
its
glittering,
same
evident in
skills
principles
in
its
same
these
churches-
areas
today.
many
must
of these peo-
life
Wherever on
the
the
religion,
and engineering
the
of
fita
erts
misrepresentation.
gamma
In this
domes
acknowledge
also
first
developed such
who
hierarchy of forms.
Though indebtedness
It
It
not only
Roman
force:
Indeed, the
wonder
is
remained shrouded
ing.
There
is,
to
cultural
Russia.
To
in
it
be-
is
for so long
be sure,
The
revival of
tine
scholars
literature.
Byzantium
lineage the
as a
major source of
Balkans
world
and
western
more than
fell to
the
to
Turks
and
in
to
it is
largely impossible
studied
Charlemagne,
Christianity.
12
beta
their
for three of
that
was modeled
it
and
like the
one
still
the
reign
of
standing at Aachen
motifs, floor
And
it is
art.
by
Indeed, in
first
introduced to Venetian
Byzantine princess.
the eyes
of
many
Westerners,
the
iota
kappa
lambda
mu
nu
myslete
nash
K
kako
lyudi
omicron
on
ksi
2:
4>
pi
rho
sigma
tau
upsilon
phi
chi
psi
omega
GO
pokoi
rlsy
slovo
tvyordo
izhita
fert
kha
psi
omega
torical nonentities,
because
is
life
Rome
looked to
watched
upon
for protection
apprehensively, fearing
it
commanding
position, the
by
not an empire,
Roman
was
state
system suitable
was wracked by
it
new demands
But despite
this
in tur-
to a city,
internal strife.
long
ticism.
story of
women,
the
intrigues
of
eunuchs and
priests,
Byzantine
life
now beginning
to see,
all,
we
of
all
are
of surprising beauty,
durability. Furthermore,
possessed sufficient
together virtually
its
underlying pattern, as
its
the
bind
to
nonbarbarian world
men and
admirable mastery of
this
reason
it is
necessary to attempt
Byzantine civilization,
main forces
it is
that forged
events.
it:
And
If
only for
more deeply
to
understand
of the
Western world;
sur-
breaking
the
to
omy,
bumbling,
was demonstrated
of the times
when
193,
climate
political
dered by the
elite
proceeded to auction
ner
foundering econ-
civil
was one
off the
Rome was
the
scarcely 300
eyes turned to
it.
who, ac-
ail
power,
inception, the
its
cording to
At
his succession to
dislike for
Roman
Some
from
racks
his
... on
the
way
they pressed
it
to rise
to the bar-
on him
that
"
.
money
to
outbid any
his.
had
tary anarchy
who
counted usurpers
ment became
un-
to
of central govern-
whose
addition
in
The concept
at various times.
mili-
own commanders,
in the
hands
were
loyalties
to
named Postumus
seized
Gaul and
as a sep-
West,
arate
general
kingdom
even
Roman
extended
of a
her
influence
woman
Though
by Emperor Aurelian,
Egypt,
into
the
eventually de-
contempt
her
for
demand
it
be
The brigands
side.
when we have
which come
Aurelian
at
Armeni-
what
all
sides?
You
if
will
of
civil
to
home. The
work
idle
once-
these
it;
heavy bur-
to
bureaucracy,
Into this
stepped
Dalmatian
soldier,
vocated
system of autocratic
Empire.
power, he systemat-
this
First,
threat of force
from within. He
attempts to
fix
famous Price
made
also
Edict,
which established
maximum
momentum
of the
prov-
num-
had
was 95 per
silver coinage
it
attempt
to
meet the
sophisticated
money
rising
economy
col-
such
to
The
to
money
or
in a vain
manpower
men
without
their
fulfill
and
to
already full
tide of inflation.
lower
was minted
will
to surrender."
to
were required
economic chaos
the
of Syria have
their armies
and we
from
to us
us,
in
for surrender:
revealed
is
Provincial
Diocletian split
top,
the
administration between
in the East
and one
in the
title
of
Augustus-
title
of Caesar. Each
was
all
four
members
of the tetrarchy.
all
name
of the
by female
Roman Em-
figures in the
Rome
Fifth
(left)
ple's
right.
city.
far
from the
city
to
become Con-
oriental trappings
on
self clad in
on
diadem
who
at-
Christianity.
able obstacles.
Roman
in
adoration.
The
Roman Empire
indirectly
set
the
new importance
to
the
it
and gave
Eastern dominions.
The
law, calling
spiritual
them
standards
down on them
persecutions so
stacles
gration of the
was
prostrate themselves
to play
was
least of Christianity's
religions
ob-
and philoso-
Roman
world.
Two
of Christianity's strongest
and Neoplatonism.
Stoicism, with
its strictly
its
ideal of
Roman
high among
15
When, two
the virtues.
it
reached
zenith.
its
more
Roman
through the
pire aided
Roman
it
began
Christ
common
ways
its
highly speculative
It
from having
it
capable of mastering
its
complex meta-
Roman network
facilitate
make
to
as
Greek and
well.
Roman world,
Christianity. And the
languages of the
of
government and
who
bottom of Greek
the
and Roman
who
labored and
patterns of the
For those great masses of the people some leavening of the frustrations and hardships of
Roman
its own
much from the
Church developed
mans were
similating
any
cult provided
it
promote
civil
disturbance.
merous
Roman system
cults
it
rites.
particularly
mans
as just
popular
to provide
Christianity
of
a spiritual plane
sical tradition
One
re-
of Apollo, the
on
East,
was Mithraism,
among
of the nu-
ligions
the
cults of
what Greek
clas-
was
originally regarded
by the Ro-
religion,
local
was
tolerated.
and created an
state
new
ritual
Christian
and doctrine,
thinkers and
as-
and philoso-
religions
efficient
own.
the Last
a belief in
was
life
commemorate
to
com-
to
way
Em-
their
in other
Latin, the
16
of
its
to those
teachings
had
origins in
And
Its lead-
Origen,
intellectuals Irenaeus,
many
its
Greek philosophy.
of the ideas of
Many
of
compete with
was
it
to
December 25
at
was well on
its
way
to
By
not,
and
is
to its other
new
life
into
Rome's
failing
govern-
in actual conflict
with the
state.
When
had no desire
when
to
They
what was
ing on
be the
to
last
great persecution
chance
to
churches
first
to be
of
razed,
imprisoned or tortured
if
Diocletian's edicts
Roman
some
of
of
to
death by a
martyred
Christians
countless
Byzantine
times.
Major
pre-
in
phases
the
in
was not
it
St.
to be
tianity
By 311
emperor.
One
title
of
in
Moesia,
home
up
the
true
mother
who
sia
Nicomedia and
and Egypt.
later
When
general in the
successor,
Roman
young
his
as
the
state
RENEWED PUNISHMENTS,
including
clergy as propagators of
249-251
AN EMPIRE-WIDE DRIVE
tians
260-303
is
303-311
faith.
against Chris-
A SECOND RESPITE
under Callienus
live
CHURCH-BURNINGS mark
unharmed.
the
311-
the
at
the
permits worshipers to
burning stake.
EXECUTIONS INCREASE
exile
235-238
of
later be-
his
at the
later St.
was one
West and
Western co-emperors;
and
and
Roman
the
of the Serbs
was Helena,
110-210
225-235
came one
the arena
was
Constantine.
last
of
campaigns.
their
religion
and
churches unmolested.
own
his
a briUiant
cam-
miesthe Germanic
this
for Christianity.
One
mum, and
in
final
the
threw
their strength.
all
triumph; he de-
which both
Constantine was
parties
left sole
now
its
homo-
Among
religions,
Constantine himself,
to
do
for bricks
who had
festi-
a typically
and mortar,
likewise.
He had
built
become
ci-
if
he did not
or
tral,
it
ex-
as well be
last
moment,
birthplace in
what
is
now
Serbia;
was Ni-
there
there
bustling center of
ited
by
of the
St. Paul,
Empire
and
in
Black
vis-
commerce
to the
and ultimately
new
All
imperial
rejected.
Trojans immortalized
by Homer. Journeying
Minor he declared
to
it
Rome,
the scene
workmen
to
begin construction
in the
work was
well
al-
Whether by divine
intervention, or
simply by
of plot
To
of
move
in
might
of
capital
sins
of spiritual
Ro-
many
children in-
his
cities
these
Christ's death
trade
man enthusiasm
the
Christian religion.
he assured Chris-
finally,
Empire. Christian
decisions. First,
of
the
too,
there,
Emperor of Rome.
Faced
some
lay
itals
to
serve as
Roman
realm,
its
tribes
It
was
also
to
a small trading
town on
a magnificently
the
Marmara.
Western
civilization.
in
It
strategic
was one
of
the history of
IN
A DRtAM
told to fight
Cl^
Christian nation.
last
direct heir
its
base
a statue of
column
Throughout
classical heritage
and
to
the
the
its
Christianity.
first
Its
disciples.
A HERITAGE
PRESERVING
Byzantium was both the
ht
in
its
in
his
its
said to
it
The
Roman
law
and
patterned their Senate after Rome's, yet supported hundreds of monasteries and
sought the
Ducas
styled herself
"Empress of the
Romans faithful
in Christ
our Lord."
19
t^^^O
*
;-'^/
il
-*.#
^:*
:^1M
^tP^'
officials
THE CODIFICATION
OF ROMAN LAW
One
'
Communion
service.
Though
ilization
of
II'
V' ^n
was the
Roman
a vast
law.
body of
clarification
A.D. he appointed
Century Emperor,
classified
20
civ-
legal
reduced
Western
into a
V'
'^ L
U/t.V
f^>
^' iV.\
'^*
o|ic\^t\(\|U\iiiuruii'iiMi\^it]rUxm\v>iiciircoubtciu
^
,
'
boc'cj^Lcitii'Auiacnxpfioiuu
Txu\mnKCiorriocriOcHivviur(i^\>w^MiVNOui|iocxOvl,.x/^.Vh'ut|vo^[:p^^
?cXMioV^iv.Jiio^numpo:vumiimupicaHKcumxlaio^
MllU\ll^.^^^u.Ml\un^aiAuA.iVlvlnv.va^nvPU|^J:T,^^o^\IvxOOvVHU'mJ.
x.^vxdv\ohiiCoovPoHa>xiu|Xria
ruK:^'^xMa.>ircrxi'cauiKfXv\o%'x.^v\dv\ohiicoovpoHa>\uklxrlu.^^^^
ruK:^'^XMa.>i[4rxi'cauiKfXv\o%'
^
AN INTRODUCTION
to a Sixth
Century version of Justinian's code summarizes the virtues of the new system.
down by
first
time
who
varied from
turies, the
golden age of
it
easier, for
law.
made
Roman
Roman
statutes
it
efficient
the absolute
and progres-
supplanted. Justinian
sell
land.
He
office
and denied
was
of heresy
their inheritance.
cally executed, as
if
The Christian
his victim
if
was poured
in her
Justinian's code
as the
was so
clear
legal
it
later
served
AN ARCHITECTURAL PROTOTYPE,
Church of
St.
Mark.
served
many
As
pre-
Venice.
religious art
22
The Byzantines
of the glories of
as a
Italy,
ied
city in
carefully cop-
laid
tation of Constantinople.
The
Persians
respected
Byzantine taste so
pulled
down
his
the
per part will do for birds and the lower for rats."
A MOSAIC
shows
FN ST.
MARKS, depicting
obvious debt
its
of
St.
to its
left).
in front of St.
were the pride of the Byzantine capital until the IJth Century,
when Crusaders
carried
them
off to
Western Europe.
23
^^-
RELICS OF
A NATION RULED
as the
chosen
with holy
sion and
was dedicated
to the Virgin,
whom
the peo-
by divine
right
symbol of the
and
to serve as the
to
spokesman
BY CHRIST
"Glory
to
atize his
pit
and preached
sermon
But the
in
state,
its
founded by Constantine
perspective: Christ's por-
fthki
..^
Si
of Christ's
at
AV
lh^
purported
'
Passion prized by
churches in Constantinople.
In
'
'ft'-
'i
''ft
^m
v>[if
MVA/!n\4l
the
is
the
Crown
of Thorns.
^ JJ
.^Ml^v
.*-
x\
^
in the Sixth
II to
the Vati-
Century, contains
in
that
come
its
in Jerusalem.
25
RIGOROUS TRADITIONS
OF MONASTIC
LIFE
the
home
of Byzantine ascetics,
it,
"
"He who
loses his
faithfully.
The
first
life
for
monks
honeycomb
St.
in a
My
in
interpreted
Anthony,
tomb
the
sake will
Him
Fourth
for 20 years
the crags
i'^-
*.*-
that rise
up
in
Egypt (which was part of the empire until 650). His aus-
him
to
form the
first
to
spread over Asia Minor and Greece, and by the Fifth Century
it
in
''-*
tere
Western
monks
^R^
first
place in Asia
in
lived.
middle of the Sixth Century there were 85 monasteries in Constantinople alone. Living in
cities, in
on
and served
27
UlTElBAmAHAJUIAKfJtcOrl'tllHliAl
A'liHAk'Mt<|>OTMli^rHAaIuiirEf*lin>
BYZANTINE MISSIONARIES, witnessed by
Bulgaria, baptize a convert in
the
text.
PASSING CIVILIZATION
TO THE WORLD
In the view of
est
many
historians,
Byzantium's great-
it
ex-
it encountered. As early as
monks from Constantinople
were seeking
Nubia
in
to
ty
and
civilization
Michael
III
for a
who
teacher
guage.
Byzantine
monk named
own
lan-
Cyril evolved a
Although
followers succeeded
among
them
failed,
his
By
the
the Bulgarians.
fold,
and
Russia,
Cyril's written
Slavic
world.
A FRESCO IN NUBIA, from one of 60 churches that were built there by Byzantine
28
architects,
cross
and spreading
his
peacock wings
to protect
fiery furnace.
29
Nearly
ed to
make
new
his
in the East, a
northeast from
He
Aegean.
home
his
passed the
Then he came
between
CONSTANTINE'S CITY
to the
hills to
for
some 17 miles
emerge, at
Before he set
where
cle
the
then sailed
the
of Troy,
Megara across
at
site
sailed
last,
sail,
new
to establish his
usual ambiguous
colonial city. In
its
him:
told
what
realize
hill-tipped,
tri-
mass,
founded
earlier
a city,
Chalcedon.
It
to
away
his
own
him. Byzantium
Rome, but
ple,
city,
was
Great made
tine the
on
it
later
it
it
was here
which took
to
The
name from
called
it
New
as Constantino-
name was
modern appellation
to live
of the im-
site that
vantages.
It
from Russia
route,
He
his capital.
perial civilization
its
Byzas
that
became known
in history as the
the
It
the
Mediterranean.
Along
this
and
honey and
salt,
gold,
wax and
slaves.
From
the
growing population.
Constantinople stood where the land routes from
Asia to Eastern Europe found their narrowest sea
crossing.
So
to
would
stones, silks
mon and
sugar,
musk and
ginger,
Mercut
Sugar
Iron
Silver
^Basra
Ormuz
'*
..*
PERSIAN
CVLF
Gold
Ivory
Slaves
Spices
Adulis
BYZANTIUM
three corjtinents in a
network
far
away
many hands
as Iceland, Ethi-
in
times of peace,
32
dhows
to transport
it
cargo of
and Abys-
merchantmen
caravan
take
it
to
to carry
bring
it
it
up
the
Red Sea
'
to ]otabe
still
and Suez, a
other ships to
its
markets. Even-
many of Byzantium's
to the Orient.
fertile districts
flourished,
the
at
shoreline,
city's
fish.
The defenses
bestowed on the
that nature
city
at the
narrow
inlet leads
along
Spices
Herbs
form
a perfect
Spices
As
Horn
docks.
"is
upon
And
in
in
winter
Pepper
,
MALABAR
ARABIAN
Jewels
bay
U T t
about
is
bor, so that
rides
SEA
Yet RO
its
Caliana
Copper
S P
on
,'
BAY OF
BENGAL
^o*;-.
to
the Gold-
commerce
its
is
the
observed, the
..-'V
,*.'L\
"o
haia
spices
the
to
five miles
when
of
is
it
on
rests
a har-
land, as
if
When
Constantine decided
all
two elements
The whole
easily.
long and
another Rome,
if
"
to
to
more magnificent
possible
INDIAN
OCEAN
'city of the
was divided
seven
hills,
Troy
to
capital
like
From
the sacred
Rome
the city
Rome
the old
talisman of
the
of Pallas
the sky
and
into 14 districts.
Constantine brought
Roman
"
Athena believed
and
to
Italy.
to
He
members
senatorial class,
also brought
of noble families to
form
new
in
fine
houses.
33
The main
Among them
were such
the serpentine
which
cities
imitation of old
Rome,
for
it
was
to
many
Apostles.
At
tombs of the
the
latter,
the
12 symbolic
later
his
new
city
emblems such
had produced
At times of great
peril,
Constantine introduced
as crosses
and
relics
of
new
Noah was supposed to
spikenard with which Mary
have anointed the
at the center of a
feet of
at the foot of a
six large
huge
drums
laurel leaves,
magnificent elliptical
Over
the years,
Forum
of Constantine.
throughout the
cifically associated
city.
great
would not
ing,
find
"You
in
Mother
of
God,"
it
was
later said
by
lay her
a host of miracles.
many
sieges the
when
Russians in 860,
the city
was deprived
of
all
siege.
up
Mary
set
dis-
to
was
it
Mother!
it
of
miracu-
which,
a veil
to
such as the
foes inexplicably
said to
at
image beneath.
Magdalen was
by
said,
was
Throughout
which had
to
known
Christian
all
was
site
most precious
of the
tomb his
among
of
been brought
was not an
be a Christian
as Blachernae,
close the
city.
around
itself,
broken up as
with
it,
It
embraced the
showed
walls,
and the
put
at a signal;
that bore
them
we were
up
delivered
from
They reposed
all
parts
in churches,
reliquary.
The
city
became an enormous
Jesus, here
Crown
of Thorns,
Luke and
St.
Andrew, and
of St. Paul's
compan-
A REVERED
men
at
left,
thought
itself
ion, St.
The
to
is
day
two church-
IS
beginning of
day of the
all this
May
dates from
city's inauguration.
On
that
a statue of
column
in
of Constantine-Apollo, bearing in
scepter and in
hand
its left
The
the Forum.
its
right
statue
hand
Century,
by
when
it
fell in a
of
built
later
two
included
list
among
theaters, eight
earlier),
compiled
little
over
century or so
begun
Sea
Hippodrome, which
by Septimus Severus
a century before.
in the
had been
of the
Horn and
still
huge
side, a
52 porticoes,
five granaries,
eight
the
defend
to
was
tri-
built.
golden cross.
came
virtually
The
an enclosed
city be-
fortress.
when some
followed by a
fire
was provided
that
Emperor
necessity,
burned
city to the
in
for
532 by
for five
ground.
days
Many
and
mon
most important he
the
seemed
Summon-
find Isidore
like
set
to
superhuman energy
dam-
on the
city.
He completely
made
Later emperors
such
further contributions,
man or
to see a
even
waist
man
job.
The
call
of peddlers offering
house
was
as Justinian left
ture
by the Turks
That the
down
the
The houses
idential quarters.
homes
raised
by sheer labor
in its
is
travelers.
"O
tain
to ex-
to
broadways and
lared
tell
streets,
of the
it
abundance of
silver,
garments of
relics.
Ships are
men want
amount
the wealthy
that
is
The
of these
nothing that
certain
interior courtyard.
would be wearisome
was achieved by
we
monasteries therein,
of later
of privacy, however,
comments
a splendid city,"
how many
in 1453.
know from
what
it
and fresh
the city
features,
were
main
streets too
fish.
its
something than
to transport
to
heavy load
house
was com-
It
support
to
It
filled
mansions boasted
splendor of gold-plated
ceilings
and
halls.
lived in two-story
wooden
usually
crowded
basement rooms or
in
visitor,
Odon
the
city.
young
The poor
street.
in
pil-
clumps of
As another
er."
At
dromonds
Genoa,
east,
and
"Greek
fire,"
the secret
weapon
of the Byzantines.
streets.
Many of
a sizable cart
36
accommodate
the poor
ders,
and
strangers.
robberies,
obscurity.
and
all
which haunt
."
.
water so important
was
plentiful.
in
Mediterranean climate-
these
it
was piped
to
city
hills,
through
water was
to
everyone
away from
ried
down
The
women
care
city
who
men and
at different times,
to those
to
the
Church
and
its
drew
manner
From
all
Spain
Britain,
sailors,
in
the
streets
always took
The main
a terrible toll.
street of
landward walls
in the
west almost
to the gates of
tention.
Mese, or Mid-
was
terrupted by
called the
it
was the
in-
regal
many
piled with
On
tary in a
their stalls,
it,
may
at the
waft upward
and
'the
so that, as a
sweet perfumes
mated
to
Justinian.
The
inhabitants
made up
Roman
lineage;
exchange the
to
new
women
latest gossip.
On
national
to
accompanied by the
Many
in the
throng of
wore:
By
to
off their
thoroughly
Illyrians,
and
show
to the
from Damascus,
time of
at the
likely she
would go by on
silk
ry
perfumers had
costume of brocaded
More than
convened
ace, the
who performed
Where
many
the
the city,
their
most
had
their
head by
The
life
a net.
of the city
Hippo-
They represented
the three
main
the people,
ately, they
tral
of the
city stood.
Here
37
colon-
and acclaimed by
shield
lace
on
his
way
Here stood
Emperor
Hagia Sophia.
to the coronation in
Justinian, clothed in
Achilles'
his nobles
armor, wearing
as
as enlarged
by Constantine,
still
the
at
One
art.
of
these
Hippodrome
in Egypt.
in
Put
390 A.D.,
it
emperor and
box
at
the
games.
Also
standing
the
is
so-called
obelisk
third
which something
still
remains
is
of
Once covered
is
bare masonry.
the spina
gilded bronze.
monumental
was known
its
Its ceilings,
as the
Brazen En-
as reconstructed
in the
by Jus-
Ninth Century,
Justini-
with
The
rambling palace
vast,
itself,
stretching south
woody
Mar-
consisted of various
It
tains, a private
polo ground,
summer
swimming
pools and
One
of the
ter-
and of
em-
vesti-
it
lily
ponds. There
stables, servants'
was one
set in
it
was probably
At
column
of
feet
some 26
golden
remains of what
Hippodrome, which
an apse; above
it
was an image
From here
of Christ
it hung a
woven with gold and ornamented with
feet.
38
It
races, isolated
still
also
the
Karnak
of
and
the east
to
Down
Temple
Byzan-
tinian
the
execution of a criminal
was then
it
into position
at the
peror.
a tall
tine
her
races
hand, signifying, as
came from
The Hippodrome,
a place of
subject to him.
was
in
left
all
who had
own
curtain of silk
precious
engraved
plates,
imperial vestments.
as
the
Magnaura.
Reached by
by golden
branches
and
lions
set
The New
its
six steps,
colonnade
form of
in
a basilica,
had
bedchamber was
of verd
The im-
framed
peacock
mag-
their
nificent
was flanked
in mosaic.
medallion that
Four eagles
in
mosaic
Above
of flowers.
portraits of
mem-
ward the
brilliant
Between
all
hill
gardens.
silverbound basin
Here
ibis,
full of
almonds and
pistachios.
children,
title,
"born
in
the
was the
to the
emper-
barges and yachts lay alongside marble quays decorated with sculpture.
by the
races or to
accompany dancers
in
Constantinople's
as a
by Justinian.
museum,
as
It
survives, serving
artistic
Hippo-
now
as reconstructed
AN ORNATE HORN,
all
to
finish
this
39
work. Solomon,
is
reported to
immense majesty
the
celebrated
first
viewed
its
hung by
of lamps
of beaten brass
ceilings,
of vaults
and populace
tation of court
No
and space.
convey
No
tecture.
is
it.
own
cause of
its
own
floor
and panel
pattern of veining,
cut again to
make
it
merge with
neighbor. Be-
its
this,
green or
more than
its
light, color
warm
Rows
red.
alike.
smoky
blue or darkish
beacon of
brilliant
Silentiary, describes
which he wrote
for
"Thus through
its
light.
poem
dedication:
come
filling
the
even the
mind with
sailor
ing behind
joy.
The
all;
him
and guides
dangers of his
at the
left
the
Aegean
forestay
taut
the on-
Bear, but
great
dome
itself the
dome
of
domes
all
it
the
of
Procopius put
masonry but
it,
it
"seems not
by
the corona of
nice,
to rest
effect
emphasized
is
its
interior cor-
do become more
upward toward
the
crown
of
Light
is
by the divine
it
light of the
church
from lunettes
in the
dome, flooding
in the half-domes,
down
it
steeps the
itself.
Yet
at night, like
to the living
pound
capital,
that
of Greece
and the
"queen of
it
God."
heart, of the
cities."
city
Byzan-
Restless
com-
it
Italian,
drew
to itself
Its
architecture in-
fluenced the ecclesiastical architecture of other historic cities Ravenna, Venice, Kiev,
dome.
in
solid
the
upon
as
beneath as though
windows above
40
He
continued
Thousands
all, it
Moscow. Above
which
THE TOWER OF GALATA, Constantinople's highest observation point, overlooks the ship-thronged Golden Horn and a skyline dominated hy Hagia Sophia's dome.
A CAPITAL OBSERVED
For 11 centuries Byzantium's capital was a showpiece of
and Christian
piety, a city
where squads of
"
Roman
planning
city
in
gilded basilicas. Visitors to the city found masses of classical statuary adorning
public buildings and reported seeing angels hovering over Hagia Sophia's altars.
Though Byzantium's
capital
had
and
fire
achievements,
share of poverty,
filth
and
now
its
map
its
modern Turkish
civic
Istan-
its
glory.
41
1147.
As
the
map above
shows, the
city's
in
in
defended wedge of
hilly
ground
at the
mouth
of the Bosporus
caravan routes from China, India and Persia, and the narrow
that funneled into
its
walled harbors
all
the seaborne
traffic
straits
passing
As
jte ot Si
Romanus
Gate of Charjsius
Gate of Xvlokerkos
Ji^X^'^"'/*"^"""
Gate of
angaria
Rome's
its
Italians.
civic structures
With nearly
classical
Rome
million in-
in
size,
and
commemorative columns
downtown
lined
the
center at the
in
Rome,
BOSPORUS
merchants
later
made
their
in
Pera,
where Genoese
homes.
in-
Barbara
lower
St.
landward
and under-
chain across the Golden Horn protected ships from attacks by sea.
at all times,
city's
side,
(left),
its
army
escort
wagons of
treasure and
to
watch the
columns of prisoners
vard, to the
startled
cutionbut only
if
was the
emperors celebrated
their
gold
Here
crowds, aristocratic
women
to
harangued superstitious
Other forums
bread
-y"
and
flocks of
Though
traffic,
surrounded Constantinople's
building codes
demanded 12-foot-wide
many
heavy
as 80,-
,M:m
'
k.
it
-i>-
ji^^'r_>
from
by
figs to icons.
city officials:
Commerce was
regulated
strictly
sell
silks,
city's
planned econ-
omy
that
of
nople,
dela,
prospered.
"
"Wealth
like
Constanti-
"is
not
to
be
found
like
in
most
the
of
whole
world.
"
Constantinople's
and
arcades assigned by the city prefect. Laws regulating trade encouraged specialized skills; leatherworkers, for
careless.
goods
As
finer
result,
materials,
The Hippodrome:
A Vast Arena
FOR Public Spectacles
Constantinople's Hippodrome, alinost in
the
shadow
of the
dome
of
Hagia Sophia
Maximus, on which
Though
eled.
drome was
races,
it
the
all
Rome's Circus
was
mod-
closely
the 1,300-foot-long
Hippo-
its
arena to
sight,
monuments and
decorative columns.
Sometimes
his
spectators
execution of corrupt
of upheaval
the
Emperor
this
Isaac
taxes;
could
officials.
at
other
witness
the
But in times
to
as
I
its
was
48
who had
tried to elect a
citi-
new emperor.
St.
and
its
domed
chapels of mar-
brick,
near the
Nyssa
remarked wryly:
When
ask
how many
the servant
if
St.
my
bath
is
ready, and he
re-
centuries from a small chapel into an irregular cluster of separate churches and galleries,
and was ultimately crowned with Turkish cu-
lavished
their
skills
on
who
left
to imaginative
masons,
friezes
in colored mortar.
its immense
domes symbolized Christianity's
all-embracing heavens. Over 100 feet across
cascade of
and 180
churches
of Europe, and
to the blue,
stars." Built
though
its
the
until
the
city
in
St.
Savior
in
Chora,
originally in the
built
by Justinian
meadows
I,
stood
ed
it
moved
to the
when
the
mid-12th Century,
St.
it
fell
Comnenus dynasty
in the
lavishly decorated.
interior
saics
w^%
The Boucoleon Palace (below) overlooked the imperial yacht basin and a wharf decorated with statues of lions and other animals. From
this palace, which was one of seven royal residences, stretched a labyrinth of buildings and
gardens that comprised the Imperial Palace complex. Blazing mosaics and marbles made it
a scene of unmatched beauty. Landscaped with pavilions, fountains and fishponds, the
palace had an air of park-like tranquility. But
and
priests.
And
in the palace
its
was
it
(right)
was incorporated
into
an angle of the
fine
many
As
imperial bureaucrats.
court continued to embellish itself with a rich array of ceremonies to underscore the
peror's divinity. Processions
in a cloud of incense
Em-
between palaces
and churches; more than 30 religious ceremonies every month demanded the Emperor's
participation.
Meals
As
ruler of the
New
owned
symbolic costumes for every occasion at Easter, for example, he commemorated Christ's
52
resurrection by wearing a burial shroud and whitening his face to resemble a corpse.
ri^Kv.^v
**%:i?-
->^
''r
'
<
^
^>JI
i-ir*^!;
tr'
tti ..>
's:ig^
^>M
fl
^ T'
r
^t
iv*^
1.
^1
yj 1
-^
::
''^>i/-i^''^'
to
its
D Byzantium's
Mesopotamia
in the east,
the
in
During the
last
period,
the
itself
it is
CHRONICLE
OF AN EMPIRE
once
at
Roman. No doubt
new
and
in his
rus;
founding of
capital
on the Bospo-
he was
But
initiating.
in
tempt
in
518 was
to strengthen
little
to the
first
death
more than an
at-
Christianity, meanwhile,
its
was spreading
existence.
its
influ-
ence as the state suppressed paganism with increasing harshness. For a brief period, however, under
to
turn back the sundial and restore the gods of antiquity. Julian,
though brought up as
a Christian,
and became
fervent adherent
earning an
On
becoming
omens
tempted
tians
them
to
of the future.
tine plaque.
civil
When
he closed churches,
at-
fire,
its
With
war with
its
valor,
were
neighbors.
his
in the
reign of Theodosius
the Great
(379-395)
55
THE CONQUESTS OF JUSTINIAN over the surrounding barbarians virtually doubled his empire. He defeated the Vandals in North Africa
(534), the Ostrogoths in Sicily, Italy
and Dalmatia
(554),
and the
Visigoths in Spain (554), while holding off the Persians and Slavs.
Christianity
During
was designated
this
great
emperors, Justinian
as distinct
West.
in the
Mosaic
was during
It
I.
into Italy
to
assume
man who
He was
of average
the
Germanic
tribes that
had
Byzantine forces
tribes
at
them
offered
full
service at high
pay
seems
have worn
to
telligence
and
and he played
affability,
which
its
the purple.
with
up
He was born
lately
rulers possessed;
Justinian
way
of
come up
who had
to the throne
his
man
the younger
own
right
by
brilliant
As emperor he
regimen. He ate little
on
as-
family of
this
few
Balkan peasants
man was
But
talents such as
sumed
was
inconspicuous figure of a
affairs of state.
late
tage of
the
basic theological
dogma
of
Orthodox Christianity
at the great
Chalcedon
in 451.
The
stage
was now
knowledge of law,
theol-
his unfriendly
even
men
of low estate
Con-
full
emergence of the
civilization implicit in
Emperor Justin
in
with the death of the Emperor Phocas in 610. Straddling the center of this period the years from 527
to
565 towers
was an equally
56
Roman
was an
actress
and
re-
a courte-
Hippodrome.
According
marriage she
had so great
a reputation for
Septun
ALANS
AVARS
ANTAE
FRANKS
LOMBARDS
SLAVS
Cherson
CEPIDS
LAZIANS
BLACK SEA
^^''^
^-"c.A.
Varna.
Adrianople*
PERSIANS
Constantinople
/ISICOTHS
'"^^'s
Dara
iiip^>raf
R^^e^
Antioch
Beirut
Jerusalem
ARABS
BERBERS
EMPIRE OF JUSTINIAN
I
^^M
by Justinian
Miles
100
200
}00
and courage,
was
as she
demonstrate. In any
to
At
torial
actress.
Justinian from
"I
hold that
if it
man
of sena-
flight
now
if
his wife
light,
and empress.
ever flight
in
inexpedient, even
is
"When
it
is
riots in 532.
man
the story of
arch in her
way, she
bank
of the
Bosporus into
home
for
on the
destitute
women.
has once
Justinian
inevitable that he
the original
to get her
Roman Empire
an
"We
come
If
a fugitive
you wish
be done
makes
a thing not to
to flee to safety.
.
is
there
I
is
be endured.
Emperor,
it
can easily
were
told of secret
in
on consolidating
him
to
less at-
private
dis-
the beginning of
bought
the
Sixth Century.
by agreeing
concentrate
fine winding-sheet."
dungeons
to
grown
since
Instead
he
and threw
all
his
57
reign of Justinian
cost By-
under the
forces,
sarius
Germanic
effort to recap-
lost to the
North Africa.
zantines occupied
entered Rome.
By
Two
Van-
Sicily,
Church and
state.
support of
missionary
536 Belisarius
in
other
Italy,
is-
larger part of
control,
tured.
Even
so,
may
well
have thought that the dream of restoring the ancient unity of the empire
manum,
as the
reali-
imperium
still
ro-
called,
Roman Empire
To reform the
throne sought
all
dominate both
were
and successors on
to
work,
own
promotion of
his
was what
Roman
empire,
really counted.
and
religious unity
same
state unity
thing.
paganism had
closed
last
down
stronghold.
the support of
its
habilitate the
This in
At the same
its
to seek
serious
new
fortifications in
Europe
domestic-religious
controversy
centering
hu-
monument
to
At
to
West-
Roman
law.
Monophysitism was
known
as the
Corpus of Justinian,
in
which an
many components
of the
Roman
to
legal sys-
Roman
gal system.
When
and
it
it
was received
in the
West
le-
in
political thought,
In his attitude
58
his predecessors
and
The
and many of
affairs
the Byzantine
dinia
of
tribes.
leanings,
first
tried to conciliate
now
to the
cessions as Justinian
him
into
made now
and
his
immediate succes-
Monophysites,
later,
the
first
the
BARBARIAN INVASIONS
ARABS
6th-l0th Centuries
I
Empire of Justinian
I,
565
Miles
100
200
from the
religious
and
op-
political
pression of Byzantium.
In the
only a dream.
By
this last
Roman
Italy.
had regained
in
may
be seen the
first
in
The
Visigothic
in all this
Justinian's
conquests.
territorial
few years
literature
tic
300
disintegration
in the
his
people
off
with
a considerable
sum
of
The empire
of anarchy
and bankruptcy.
itself
a series of
tine
distinguished
hostages from
in
were returned
to
Byzantine
rule.
The True
dic-
con-
tated
by reasons of
carnate
Word
in the great
state; nevertheless
it
by Justinian,
what
in
And
finally built
in
and
spirituality of so
much monas-
to
how-
central Arabia
59
map shows
II,
and
Mohammed were
the
of
Within 10 years
Moslem
these
desert
search of conquest.
in
had
warriors
poured
unchecked
When
By
to the
end of
re-
when
re-
woman whose
easily
promised
him from
free
to
mother's
his
The
successfully defended.
series of attacks
during
time,
first
fleet.
city
who came
was
Anatolia
ty,
inces
territorially
the worldwide
finally
Having
lost
in
797 Irene
fall a
in
glowing opportunity
in
to elevate
upon Charlemagne
boldly bestowed
of emperor.
coronation was
To
all
title
and
good Byzantines,
this
the
if
most of
its
in
The
West
by
lin-
had never
a palace revolution
the
West
and exiled
was overthrown
to the island of
miserable isolation.
To
The climax
months
in
rule.
aggravat-
it
papacy.
was widened by
saw
III
transformed
took the
finally
own name.
development
Constantine's
crown
it.
Irene,
(741-775) pushed
ly small state
mother
his
tolia,
Byzantium
the consolidation of
Irene.
was thwarted by
it
Crowned as Leo
new Syrian dynas-
in
to the rescue.
III
that
The
the 10-year-old
Sicily.
lems for the second time, and for the second time
60
in 780,
In 717 Constantinople
drama began
And
was
lurid
the
Byzantium was
duced
most
its
still
close guard to
prevent
another revolution.
from 867
to
1056
Cherson
<
BLACK SEA
1045
Trebizond
CHALDIA
ARMENIAKON
PAPHLACONIA
VASPURKAN
COLONEA
Pr.lep
SEBASTEA
Nicaea
Aegean
CHARSIANON
OPSIKION
ABYDOS
Cae^arca*
5ed
aOf ni:na
Ionian
5ea
1038-1043
ANATOLIKON
THRACESION
PLiAco';
^,
^^1032
LYCANDUS
Mosul
Iconium
ELOPOKNESE
cibyraeots
"'^..
SEUjg^
Rivei
'4hodes
-<,
CYPRUS
CRFTf
EMPIRE OF BASIL
I
^^1
^^1
II
Conquests of Basil
Ref;ions
II's
reign
II
added soon
came under
distinguished as
its
Miles
the great
whose
its
members emperors
founder,
Basil
as
(867-886),
the
new era
notably Leo VI, called the Wise (886-912); Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (913-959), a patron
of the arts
mony and
II
court cere-
Bulgaroctonus
umphed over
as
his
name
soldier
indicates,
tri-
was
<
Tarsus
Ephesjs
'^
Syracuse
mELIT
-^Or
AECAION
HEa\s
TAf
MESOPOTAMIA
seemed
to
pour through the trade routes of the Levant, overland from India and beyond, or
down
reconquered.
Cyprus
the great
The
seizure
of
Crete
etration. In
Islam
The
Byzan-
came
state,
sister,
II
in
Anna,
his people
to Christianity.
Basil
II
Byzantine emperor. His speech was plain, his manner abrupt and direct.
unpolished.
of
into the
and
as regent of the
to
was drawn
The menacing
961
greater splendor.
in
in
in marriage,
ia
As
and
in his efforts to
keep
61
"He even
went so
was unadorned by
make
refused to
collars, his
back
head by diadems. He
led
himself conspicuous
in
purple-
away superfluous
On
rings,
Samuel
to
by
first
in batches of a
one-eyed man.
When Samuel
beheld this
later.
he was there-
after called,
empire into
friction."
From
obedience.
tian
a great
power whose
Danube
triumph by
extend-
territories
He
in the north
celebrated his
far as
threatening Antioch
Mother
campaign
to
in the field
itself.
other emperors,
when
it
Unlike
many
summer he
disci-
was well
He was
of individual officers.
thus
formidable
quo
of
threats
This
in the
his
reign
in Syria,
there
all
of
Con-
Macedonia except
Dan-
opened
Once
final defeat
campaigning he reduced
about half
came
his counter-
again leading
in
1014
its
is
communicated each
other.
growing
publics,
pand
their
Italy.
Rome and
The
be-
rift
Constantinople
The
in strength,
Italian
maritime
were anxious
re-
to ex-
rising in
said to
itself.
In
the
at a battle in the
original size.
Samuel's
Norman
who now
to
er there
West,
had conquered
Samuel's territory
God.
stantinople,
of
62
ry
had
risen to
member
of the
new
heights,
house came
of Byzantine history
glolast
last time.
cu
'<A^^-
"^
BASIL
\.
on
THE MAGNIFICENT
from obscurity
new
glories.
to
its
Ninth Century on
a barren, rocky
Basil
I,
man who
it
bright with
the
young
field, in
tion)
in
man
rises
banquet
hall
and
Many
ancient chronicles
tell
his story,
wonderfully
ingly than the one compiled by John Scylitzes, a Byzantine official of the 11th
Century.
One
monks
in Sicily.
It
now
rests
amusing insight
and
politics of
Byzantine empiresmanship.
63
'AAA
1/
jjt^r^f-ii
Even
DLf
legends say,
V^-^fl-ou/JOO*"^
OKC \'yT*^/
B,
'flfay
by his family
it
in a
to
to
the wheatfields
where
in,
tried
off until she sensed a divine sign. The small Greek labels
to
When
is
dream.
grow from
tall,
meant
woman, who
it
was her
son.
She
dream
Emperor of Byzantium.
Y,oung
,
Basil
and
by
in-
As
Omurtag
later
by the
marched
the prisoners
way back
to their
to
grab
While a nearby
official protested,
him a
64
big
Omurtag
left
brothers
and
town
rest
at
He entered
down to
sat
In the first of
and bids
welcome the young man who will be
the adventurer
Basil to a friend of
philitzes.
in.
He
later
Emperor Michael
monk
recommended
III,
Theo-
and
skill
and
'
'm^OD'n^T^n^ffflTf'pfi ';\4
A. he
Emperor himself
first
heard
Bulgarian
asked permission
to
the
of
boasted
send
table
newcomer
the
of
for
his
(above,
servant,
left) to
when,
Constantinople
to
prowess
of
Basil,
the
wrestler
who
delight
of
among
easily
all
at
lifted
the
them.
the
guests.
w.
hile
Basil
visiting
met the
rich
money
to
Greece
with
Theophilitzes,
buy farms
for his
*&:>
won
'^0)^'\immotTTOfyijflx\)i}tii'j;rviSiaf^^
In return she
\^>/
^.
asked Theophilitzes
away and
Basil
he might "jump into the imperial saddle and grasp the purple reins."
Granted permission, Basil dashed after the runaway (top right), vaulted from one saddle to the
if
other and brought the horse back (bottom). The Emperor appointed him one
of his guards.
o.
now
attacked by
the
mace
As
mured
prophetically:
"I
believe
that
our
67
On
his
way
first
a rival
" nr K<j*fci/
B.'asking
in
Michael's
favor,
was
Basil
pened
to be
who
the
also hap-
while
and Bardas
(right) frets
with a friend.
* H<tyT"VC-M4l'pH&^A*<
dora,
is
il
To^T>if>^i'fXJOiiai^^W
'i'o'h^^miwc a^^tt>uWflL|Vf^Fo;^fa)Wi
is
left
the
who
says Bas-
imperial family.
To
the
ested
air, is
^J eeking
il
to
Basil himself.
persuaded Michael
to
in
between
battles,
(far left),
Michael
resumed
led his
army home
his
co-emperor
and
(right).
himself,
and
Basil
vorite, Basiliskianos, a
drunken
folly
or dressed this
him and
man
in royal robes,
and
In
crowned
officials to bless
to
kill
Basil,
excesses.
and
fa-
new "monarch."
loyalty to the
sailor.
called in priests
and pledge
N.ow
handsome
into
first.
Basil's
In the
ear
scene
j^.
at the right, Basil's
own
o.
n a
litter
borne
kills
him with
in relay
a sword.
by 300 youths,
titled
slaves,
John
in
high
silver
and
rugs.
69
*US^-ilfc-
iv
S**
"I?
.
..^*..
'.
t'
F.
X
\y
^ ^ J
waged with
their times,
a refined cruelty
and foe
for friend
alike
shown
As
a result, Procopius,
the picture,
was
much
defeated.
own and
ire
(below).
9-i
In
two
the
Leo
is
condemned by
commander
official torturer
lies
on
wood while
from
all
it
payroll.
0*
O,
who
by transporting
In this painting,
Arab
fleet in
Oryphas attempts
to dissuade other
Arab
sailors
'
^^
At
his direction,
post; another
target practice
is
one
is
and a fourth
is
is
tar.
Conspiracies
filled Basil's
declining years.
One
emperor
man from
B.
monk
(above)
boot to
He
advises
him
A,J
Basil.
tell
"Ouch! Ouch!
cally cries,
restore
to
Basil a parrot,
good
him
to
who
patheti-
Sir Leo," at
which the
A.
JL.
him
take
to
grown long
giving
all,
in prison, cut.
freedom and
off
his hair,
his
"vest-
which had
w.
made
still
another
trip to
72
now
to
very old,
Leo (right),
own
pay homage
i'^^l!^yo^^^ti9vn4tyn/QArj099)ji*a)fi^* TBp
^*
X
.
he scheming
monk
*%
in
is
guilt, the
monk
declares,
is
^i
l^M^iWlfitOp^t^*
iNi4ji>4fftAuActKn&MtAfi
preparing
rid of
Leo
to
murder
first.
The
armed
V-^n
all
innocently whips out the one hidden in his boot and offers
Emperor. He
jail
is
and Leo
it
to the
by the angry
ruler,
who
al
V^^^i
AiCiQlSl^
mr
:iJ'.^^:j^<:
change
the magnificence
the
in
it
who had
ruled the
new
Roman Empire
gods the
as
now
rulers of the
regarded not as
tatives of Christ
Yet
in
their
The
ble manifestation.
invisible activity of
AN EMPEROR
UNDER GOD
all
visi-
God,
as
heavenly
principalities into
absolute rule.
the emperor,
was
bring
to
all
mankind
into
an
was
society
human
peror, His
human
It
the
immovable
all
way human
As God was
affairs revolved.
followed that
all
His
meant
to
ritual
life
was surrounded by
was
a ritual that
performed
in
that he
mony
that
fulfill
went with
bound up with
palace,
his
court,
his office.
his
this:
vestments,
his
Everything was
images,
his
ap-
public
the
mystical
pronouncements and
his
his laws.
cere-
by no
would
means assured
succeed
power
CCXJ'S
ma to
bishops and
monks
at a
church council
in
1351.
him or even
for long.
that
in office,
religious dog-
succession to the throne. Legitimate dynastic descent did give a male candidate strong claims, espe75
UNLUCKY EMPERORS
cially
after
was no
The
this matter.
was
to see
II,
who
all
actually occupied
means
An
itself in
becoming
of
as they
were
God had
Furthermore, what
BASILICU5
477
Starved in prison
take away.
ZENO
491
Buried alive
MAURICE
602
Decapitated
from him
PHOCAS
610
Dismembered
as
HERACLEONA5
641
Mutilated
641
Poisoned
II
668
Bludgeoned
LEONTIUS
705
Decapitated
705
Decapitated
CONSTANTINE
III
CONSTANS
TIBERIUS
III
JUSTINIAN
II
711
it
An
in his
bath
if
him
manner
in the first
place and
as terrible
to
failed.
Of the 88 emperors
1453 from Constantine I
Decapitated
713
Blinded
who
VI
797
Blinded
to
LEOV
820
Stabbed, decapitated
III
867
Stabbed
CONSTANTINE VII
959
Poisoned
963
Poisoned
PHILIPPUCUS
CONSTANTINE
MICHAEL
ROMANUS
II
NICEPHORUS
II
XI 29
Constantine
their lives, in
monasteries.
969
Stabbed, decapitated
II
Phocas.
The
died violently
was Nicephorus
976
Poisoned
ROMANUS III
1034
Poisoned, drowned
of the Saracens.
MICHAEL V
1042
Blinded
ROMANUS IV
1071
Poisoned, blinded
Romanus
1183
Strangled, decapitated
JOHN
ALEXIUS
ANDRONICUS
II
II,
He was
1185
II
1193
Blinded
ALEXIUS IV
1204
Strangled
ALEXIUS V
1204
Blinded,
JOHN
IV
1261
Blinded
ANDRONICUS
IV
1374
Blinded
JOHN VII
1374
Blinded
ISAAC
maimed
Theophano
in arms,
party
women
was lying
76
could also
and sudden
in as unpredictable
He
given
asleep.
He was
capitated. His
attended by eunuchs
known
ficers of the
Byzantine throne.
was
that
1185.
meted out
He was
all
imperial deaths
Andronicus
to
Comnenus
a
He would pray
be-
after
in
and
pillory
royal wardrobe.
as cubicularii, or of-
If
re-
for
made.
We
in the
Tarsus.
of his
thrown
off.
in his face
He was
and an
do you strike
of his misery
by
sword plunged
at last
Why
put out
emperor had
had
is
De
procedures,
tine VII
in a vast
manual of
to the
of the
a purple
and decorated
in
Over
this
he
shown
Church
of
in the por-
San Vitale
at
hemispherical,
some
hanging down as
let
inserted in the
far as the
attire.
The
floors
mary and
their
as they
roses;
crushed essence
filled
On
the entrance.
at
imperial guards
in
laurel, rose-
above
to
families, dressed
A choir was
stationed
We
Constantine
hall.
had
other jewels,
Mag-
by great golden
side
close-fitting
lit
trait of
private apartment.
official
was held
It
his
On
Nothing daunted
(for he
When
now
It
that Liutprand
had
to
in
this
position
in
both morn-
j^SHHiSmaiBi^Si^
Mf^^^R^^^^jSP
1
1
hI
LaSHHw^B
Jt ^u[&V!3^ '"bwTi
BLi iV'^fcr'^^'^^^fc'''y^
y^
Bg
s^^3
^m
s^^B^
'<'''
THEODORA
*^
''^
/'
JHuBd^BHI^H
THREE FAMOUS EMPRESSES of Byzantium, portrayed in the mosaics above, led vastly
different lives. Theodora, an actress and courtesan before marrying Justinian I, be-
came
a trusted adviser to her husband. Zoe, a capricious blonde, inherited the throne,
much
a sainted Hungarian king, devoted herself to charity and herself became a saint.
known
for
it
as the
was
still
the fashion
on
With such
a large hall
Roman
style.
Hindu
jugglers to
Chrysostom with
close
the
show the
The
ruler's
ceremonial
as those of rulers in
life
was
as rich
and varied
whole
cocooned
in brilliant pageantry.
or Persian.
with banners,
many
of
Horn
under
ly
troops would be
armed
embroidered dress,
with
the scholarii,
tunics;
and
swords
some
another body
of
cluster the
figurehead of an
The
An
its
aloft.
the emperor
with
the Golden
eagle
lances;
had some-
the
termination of the
eagle.
clothed in rose-colored
at the
set
vice-regent on earth,
78
provided by
and double-edged
himself,
as
axes.
Around
he disembarked, would
earlier
Saxons great
be provided
The
He would
Then he would
city.
brilliant escort
down
to the
come him.
Later
would come
Forumof Constantineor
in the
the
The imperial chanters would intone paeans of victory. At the climax the emperor would place his scarboot on the shaved head of the chief prisoner,
let
perhaps
a barbarian
first
In palace
had
"Who
out of turn.
own
to
was
occasions, and
official
than
the time
is itself
came
of interest.
for the
emperor
to search
throughout Byzantine
had not
fulfill
so
important
specific requirements
and
feet.
also through
women
who
the emperor,
nun and
a reputation
hastily
for sensitivity
and
religious
this pre-
summoned
to
own
had her
court
the
and
own
gave audigifts
princesses.
on
She
the empress
affairs,
a decisive influence
on occasion even
Among
came
to the
after
prime of
woman;
life,
this
Psellus,
these ladies
50 years of
life
in
was
ob-
Though
empress was
who was
rather past
still
the
striking
and
in
good condition."
them but
also to preserve
scientific
apartments
into
to
make
possessed
girl of
fervor.
host of servitors
visiting
on public
the
own
down
women's quarters
vanced
(Not
farther
ladies in
and
moved
startled
his choice.
The young
line of aspirants.
came
that
evil
or
only to offer
was
ladies of
emperor on
when
that evil
it
hand her
to
it
miracles."
right.
Traditionally,
was about
the emperor
beauty
in
throne by speaking
lost the
How the
As
who
supreme
girl,
her
intelligence,
one
great like
to the
told of
is
an adjunct
is
all
and
story
laboratory full of
pipes
and
79
braziers
of unguents.
good
six-
God had
act
to
she
tieth
the empire
ties
to
superb corps of
civil servants).
Only
effect,
Byzantium's
was upon
much
emperor, had
tive, the
ing hierarchy of
numberless ranks of
who had
to
to leave
more prone
group seem no
many
its
proficiency,
Comnenus
was
Among
who founded
(1118-1143),
who
Irene, wife of
the
where
For
later buried.
from Rome.
as manifested in
Down
used Latin as
Latin
official
its
Christ, our
it
was
in
His name,
else in
service gradually
assumed
new
form.
official.
perial office,
The Greek
titles
of ministers
and high
the protespatharoi,
ficialsthe spatharioi,
of-
the
lo-
Though
open
difficult
men
to all
of
were recruited,
examinations, from
service. Officials
was regarded
as
having
was dedicated
to
a sacred
to the service
ments, his
the
Kingdom.
character. Everything
of
and
onward
Greek designations
why
palatii,
is
it
That
directly
day (610-641)
Byzantium
was inherited
dia-
much
and
backbone of
the
it
centralization
its
En-
a sacred trust.
to Heraclius'
sea.
kind of ordination;
which made
fect,
Christ Himself.
down
ice
II
to lay
the
military,
It is
than other
John
was
was
to folly or self-indulgence
ladies; indeed,
it
through
and
civil
beautiful.
correspond-
dignitaries,
officials,
still
through
to act
court
80
successful,
letters,
was
all
To
in-
sult
him was
to
was
to invite
excommunication. Rebellion,
if
not
him
The
met with
for the
his represent-
implementation
officials
They were
palace,
of the
were formu-
High government
titles
so
that
perial household.
directly in
For
many
at the
He was head
offices.
secret police
or master of
officii,
and the
system, as well
state postal
and au-
the service
was
it
to
military-style
belt," leaving
in
came increasingly
theme, or
At the head
militaristic.
military
was
province,
be-
of each
general,
the
strategos,
affairs.
responsible to him.
power on
of
civilian
RAISED
army
ON A
in a
SHIELD, a Biblical
David
is
crowned
in a
As
was named
to serve alongside
him, though
to
ed Byzantium to mold
Its
its
itself
along military
its
peak
avoid
In Constantine's
ready moving
Much
attention
it
it
lines.
probably
was ex-
was
there-
waste of
time,
the
away from
lives
and equipment.
al-
legionary system,
in-
81
effective:
until
A new
force
who gave
swords and
shields.
and
gauntlets
lances, spears
armed
it
was
it
the
of
lower esteem
defense
office
to
office
Many
Byzantium were
men. As
trate their
Romanus
easier for
such
cas-
one emperor,
least
I,
high
on hereditary
disgrace to castration;
attacks.
who
who were
made advancement
world
in
known
and broadswords,
by regular emolu-
vital in the
Arab
back on
perorand could
was held
of Constantinople against
cleverly
exile,
and were
shoes,
steel
fit
them
offices
commanders
so also were
in the
army
and
or the navy.
was
appointed by Alexius
I.
fashionable doctor
was an advantage,
borders or
to
be actively safeguarded by
it
peaceful
all
developed from
assumption, was, on the one hand, marvelousinvolving the most sumptuous of gifts
ly formal,
underhanded skulduggery.
Byzantine maneuver in
was
to
realistic,
fairly
state
it
and
standard
neighboring
undermine that
its
this
state as a
to
weapon: noble
marry and
ladies
civilize
were sent
distant
to foreign courts to
monarchs,
eunuchs or
It
was
it
women
If
one wanted
to
become
women.
many
for only
exclusively
and
for
and
to fall
reliability
on any
hands of
the
into
cause of
ministrative system.
to attack.
82
and
alien
As an
expensive,
cumbersome and
liable
it
to
corruption.
Other elements
many
was
together the
'7Tiffci^''^'<r>iBA*.Kfir.'T?f'Wf7aATDi^7^W
tightly disciplined
Roman
scientific
legions
warfare
when
they had
to.
As
rightly so, as the best fighting force in the world. Its officers
field,
on the enemy.
WAR
TECHNIQUES OF
wage highly
to bear
the Byzantines
tactics.
moved
itself,
and
were schooled
While
their infantry
in
their
and
cavalry the fighting edge of the land forces through complex and orderly maneuvers (above). The
men
were backed by
spoils.
a host of auxiliaries:
res-
Turks and Bulgars who ringed the empire, and advised generals on
strategy.
A3
ARCHERS ON HORSEBACK
.'^'A
V-iiC- ''^--
the
B^M
'^i^A
''gS'-.
A HORSE-ARCHER
84
They were
most always
was
them came
wave was
second
alit
line of
bow
in for
while on horse-
INFIGHTERS
Foot soldiers,
ON FOOT
Roman
land forces,
the infantry did not serve in the front lines because Byzantium's
chief enemies, the
ever,
when
the Slavs
entirely
its
mounted. How-
handled the
less
to
own.
in
It
also took
narrow passes
it,
block an
SPE.AR IN
HANP
ij"
infantryman
A CAVALRYMAN'S UNIFORM
scale armor,
starts
on a march.
consisted of
(left)
nic in
summer and
Over
his shoulders
he draped a
felt
cloak
armor
bow and
employing
Century.
in the Sixth
lowed him
to slash
and
al-
ed a larger
and a long
pike.
an overhead swing.
in
extremely expensive,
the
An
men sometimes
infantryman ordi-
was usually
As
in the cav-
its
shields.
enemy
ENGINEERING A SIEGE
Byzantium was seldom secure enough
that
it
war, but
ual
its
enemy
line of
militarily
mangons
that hurled
to enter-
When
the missiles
moved
up
hammer
the Byzantine
their
troops
tipped
drills.
tive, siege
less
set
them on
fire,
would collapse
tine forces
the
in
up
they had
When
as they went.
the
fire
out in
would stream
in
HEAVY ARTILLERY
cock
it,
artillery
men
mangon
first
(below).
To
wood
men
nally a stone
^^,
86
mangon was
was put
in
the scoop
rear.
Fi-
and the
'
paujK-j^
TWO TYPES OF
shown
in a
fortress
walls,
are
upper
drill,
Two
which
sol-
held
is
attached to
artist's
own
it.
The
drill
-^
LU
"TTA -r^
"^_iar
nff
>
forth.
'V^
i.
^-
\>"
i^l
*
n-'^^^%\i\\\
'^.'tV
W
/A-
mounts a ladder
-"- ^;,H!
|?raw'^juuuri
yt
it-'.
^:^-
to a net
at
far
left
held by grappling
hung from a
net
battering ram.
The ram, a
is
swung
push-
The one
at right
is
to the
a bat-
it.
and are
lie
on
may
to
be
symbolic decorations,
or
weights
87
MANNING A FLAME-GUN,
on an enemy
Greek
fire
inder,
worked
like
fortress.
pump
a small hand
or syringe.
The Byzantines
flame-throwing weapons for defense; the Emperor Constantine VII ordered them
may
GUNS AND
FIERY
The most
terrifying single
weapon
"Greek
thrown
in clay pots,
Greek
Its
fire."
When
would
fire
SHIPS
main ingredients
was
mys-
ignite spontaneously
are thought to
and
have been
The Byzantines
Century and
learned
at first
used
in
plode,
and
it
how
to
make Greek
it
conveying Greek
shock
battles.
fire
fire in
at sea.
the Seventh
The
fleet
slightest
it
to ex-
for naval
controlled the
Mediterranean, and time and again the fiery liquid averted im-
pending defeats. Russia's Prince Igor might have captured Constantinople in 941
if
Greek
fire
his
10,000 ships all of which reportedly burst into flames and sank.
88
in its
bow
a high
wooden
turret
for spraying
from
Greek
fire.
]ust aft
fiery
siles
made
wadded
EMch ship
of
cloth soaked in
oil.
mis-
v\"K
'>>
'V
AfORTlflEDPi.NlNSVLA.Constantinoplewasprotectedfrov. .:....
...,..., a
who had
bounded the
city's
fleet.
seaward
On
sides,
map
above,
which were
1
side rose in levels behind the moat.
tines constructed a
feet thick.
As
that
were up
to 25
were faced first with a moat some 60 feet wide and 22 feet
deep that was normally dry but that could be flooded by
pipes. Behind the moat was a low wall to shield a line of
archers.
Even
fense, they
if
were confronted by
overcome
second wall, 27
feet high,
which sheltered more troops. Beyond the second wall lay the
in
third
to bring
Its
maximum
towers,
fire
against invader
some 70
feel
high,
gunpowder
finally
much
month and
as 1,200
empire fell
at last
Mehmel
II
pound-
a half
May
29, 1453,
> /v
^> 1(A)"6^'
V
Emperor
rival
had
in
a revelation.
It
European
in
312 A.D.
to
the West, he
was
is
a revelation
history.
Some
ac-
in
which he was
result of
on
led to inscribe a
new
was elaborated
sign
into the
con-
quer."
any
In
was
THE HOLY
ESTABLISHMENT
case,
a Christian sign,
and
was under
it
won
the protec-
Christian
later.
it
during
the time of persecutions were restored, and Christianity's right to legal status
was
affirmed.
ture of
to Christianity in a
it so
from the
from man.
hymn sung on
puts
tine's Feast
'
it,
the
revelation
liturgical
day of Constan-
a call
it
to
not
like
directly chosen
pire
It
had received
soon became
clear,
however, that
zantium, where Christianity was the state religion. In the 11th Century
mination at
mons from
left,
St.
the
Emperor Nicephorus
]ohn Chrysostom
(left)
III
(center) receives a
book of
its
its
if
the well-
submission
officials
to its
and citizens
illu-
ser-
opposed
were forbidden;
had captured
it
Roman
its
most
bitter persecutor,
the
less
fices
ity
was declared
in
This adoption of
compulsory
state religion
growing need
was
for a strong
been
to
Rome such
the practice of
an
in the presence of
head of
state.
to foster unity in
Church
somewhat
the
to
new
its
status
Christian society in
salvation by law as
Church were
Church and
identification of
a close
siastical advisors,
than
With
state
"My kingdom
is
was
to its doctrine,
with the
state.
political control
of the faith. In
by Church and
explicitly
worldly status
itself
if
it
were
to
was
to result in a very
com-
was
to
to
the needs
of
for
state.
prevailing
traditions,
Roman
From
and savior of
his people.
From
falate
came
the
ruler,
as
who
divinity.
Now
the Christian
a
God
that Christianity,
so the theory
submis-
in Constantine's
on the eve
Such
went the
designation of Constantine
all
distinction
is
by the
may
to this
men, he
plex relationship.
was
it
respect
astute
Milvian Bridge,
remain true
was
political
clearly circum-
life
of
not His
was so suited
state
stated,
and
ruler
its
The boundaries
scribed
the
if
direct
well as by grace.
of the
providential,
his
and
a diver-
without. In pagan
mankind. But
to
state.
than miraculous
Christian, then a
94
Indeed,
for
now emerged
earth
was
long an
was
to play
triumphant.
God
in
so
on earth
a role
analogous to that of
ruler in
absolute
monarch the
Roman
ruler of the
Empire.
It
them
to
spiritual
was
it.
He was
to be
of
to rule
of God. So
prepare
to
God and
answerable to God
Kingdom
re-
it
to lead
for the
He
his subjects.
was
it
had himself
that Constantine
rected
certain tension
would
arise
it
was
inevitable that a
jurisdic-
On
Roman and
its
native India to
is
preme authority
the
Church would
As
far as the
an ascendancy
try to establish
state.
these de-
and
First
it
ernments were
sharp decline:
tianity
began
or
society, the
role
Church had
Roman
to
to
have an active
social
this evolution
most
if
was
carried out.
effectively, the
To
play
Church hastened
When, under
new
were appointed
diocese,
to
adapt
Roman
who
as
Chris-
Roman
the
gration of the
Han Dynasty
in the
Third
its
chaos.
The aftermath
of this parallel
reli-
churches
flourish
role
prov-
Christians had
to
its
inces
in
the
when
turies of
lines.
footholds in a time
ly rooted in
followed similar
in-
growth
to
Bishops
in
each
higher bish-
ferent.
When
the
Roman Empire
stabilized
on the
amalgam
of Chinese
religious
thought.
exercised authority
time, the
in the east-
who
presided
sus,
place
of
of
special
honor
in the
Rome,
the Apostles.
The town
new
Constantine as his
capital,
was chosen by
it
So humble
was
status
Roman
after the
city's
at the
and
in charge
center,
make
order to
this centralized
Church workable,
government of the
was established
Constantinople, presid-
at
Church on
As
there
was
a patriarch;
there
and
was an emperor,
as the
so
emperor ruled
Hand
in
empire went
"New
Con-
up Christian symbols
setting
among
in the city,
Chalcedon
in 451,
later
confirmed
this
Church
of the
little
prominent places
seems
in
Church
of
a sense of
Thrace, giving
it
The
peak
the
Church
at
Century,
when
its
bishop or
religious sees
title
Justinian
to
er protested,
first to call
title
is
known
simple: the
was natural
that
its
was
monuments,
verse), so
lat-
is
The most
other
be called "ecumenical"
The explanation
all
Rome, Gregory,
deepen
called
came
to
was
centuries.
in the Sixth
senior patriarch
tralized,
council,
Byzantium, when
of
ture of the
and shrines,
of the
tion
new
from
all
faith,
all
brought
the possession
of
that
these
now
Through
inhabiting
relics
and devo-
in piety, love
testi-
Heaven it was
radi-
The
meant
had
concern
vital
in defining
its
local
Mary and
images of Christ,
ly prevalent in public
that
These
itself
worship. But
to
need arose.
rules
remained
perorand
as the
when
later
became the
faith of the
em-
had
it
new
questions,
it
fer-
become
The peoples
of
flatly
in
III,
down
of
to the
details.
of gatherings known
ecumenical councils at
as
when
to
these councils
doctrinal disputes
ened to lead
to serious
among
icons removed
all
met
at
Nicaea
Coun-
325 in order
in the spring of
to
as Arian-
eastern
the
in
provinces,
power
as
Emperor
the
of the Church.
to
Ranged
who
and heresy.
The
attack
upon
more than
half a
into
the
streets;
systematic
persecutions
by
re-
lationship of the
Son
of
God
God
to
the Father.
tive of the
became
and
in icons,
ond held
Ephesus
don
at
Constantinople
in 451, or the
were
381, the
in
third
similarly
summoned
at
at
Chalce-
Nicaea
in
787
with
regent,
honor given
mitted to
ings.
icon
particularly long
from Judaism
a distinction
God
alone,
an icon but
holy subject.
in
As
The
repugat
any
between
and venera-
in reality trans-
a result, icons
were
The
its
to
in
quarter of a
in 813,
came
removed and
when
an-
to the throne,
new wave
of
foriconoclasm was
less enthusiastic
When
monk Methodius,
tion, elected
great
Methodius
have the
Hagia Sophia,
of
proclaimed
the
From
the year
in
843,
restoration
final
the
of
icons,
regarded as the
ly
Empress
to
to
Church
the
had
final-
been overcome.
religious disputes could be-
must remember
it
life
damnation
or death.
mode
was not
literally a
of salvation
of worship.
submissive
was
it
The prospect
in the hereafter
propounded
to a
downward,
overthrow of
felt
responsible.
all,
summoned by
them was
their retreats
by an indignant pop-
in
the
lost
fact
crystallization
and
laity
preferred facing
this truth to
of
the
inner
if
of the
the clash
of the state
formed by the
there were
still
when
times
which
it
fundamental religious
the state
in a
It is difficult
belief. It
which
had
interest
state,
human
life
and
it.
few words
lay behind
all
to give
an idea of
Byzantine religious
to overstress
was
the contrary,
felt to
be
own
fate,
either
to
become God-like
It
to a
beliefs.
in
the vision
the
would
was muted
Roman West,
empire were
ness. Yet
his
Although
was never
On
to heel
many
tine period
servili-
its
ulace,
frequent examples of
to be sure,
summoned from
have
his
also
in
re-
itself
was
realities.
ticipate,
simply by reason of
ligious matters,
empire,
98
among
ty
revolution, the
There were,
for
laity.
peror
To understand how
come
simply
it
vital
that the
Church was
said to
highest
life
of
all.
The
its
existence, in the
this
From
influ-
living
ence,
on top of a
even
pillar for
threatening
the
God's punishment in a
called,
it
30
emperor with
dispute.
religious
were said
another
to
its
point of contact
existing
all
its
himself was
his
own
of
things,
to
felt
the
and
struggles
suffering.
"What
is
heart
"It
is
the
for
demons, for
creatures.
all
mind
for
He who
has this
The Byzantine
in its
vision of
life
was
also mirrored
Divine Liturgy.
corporate
life
And
it
was
the
found
its
hymn and
common
that their
titles,
membership
in a ter-
to
God.
mys-
restrial
empire found
tion
and savored
its
fulfillment.
its justifica-
Church and
made manifest
ence as
and
a single social
The
service.
political
God and
the Great
dedicated
on
at
His
services in
Constantinople,
"We know
their master:
earth,
not whether
for surely
there
not describe
it
to
you; only
all
told
we were
we know
in
no such
is
We
can-
that
God
dwells there
to
or
state,
their exist-
body, a holy
Heaven
."
.
minded
we
can-
spiritual life
who were
official
life;
God's
man especially
elect,
if
is
ranks of society.
devoutly, in search of a
Others saw
itence.
in
life
Many
entered
of humility
it
and pen-
it
others viewed
office. Still
it
means
as a
of
By-
in
life
wealth.
Over
asteries
grew
to
emperor
as
military service,
disposal
their
at
tracts of land,
power
vast
their great
of the
mon-
monks
possess none
of
livestock.
own
enrich-
no way
differs
from that
"What
a contrast
between
life
in
who
and the
lives of
in
al-
in
and demoniac.
Hemmed
where
of the esteem
it
monk was
common
a present source of
man
could a
else
bidding?
to their
sick-
who
If
landowners attempted
or even
if
and
the greed
had the
If
to extort or
man
cured
taxgatherers or
was there
to
defend against
what
of earthly beings?
He had
world and
all
its
now was
from him
his mortal
through violence
lose that
life,
come
and
if
he were
upon him,
might
crown and so
to be-
monas-
teries
who
who
somber
profundity;
frescoes.
It
for
much
and
that
to
them
was most
vital in its
tic
artists
manuscripts;
and
to
it
laid
whose
earliest existing
none
963 by
in
was
life
But despite
100
numbers
ple
ness,
all
man and
traction for
who
person
St.
Byzantine
works of
now
all,
on Mount Athos,
spirit,
It
and
is
living
a treasure
monument
to
in
to
the
house of countless
his
arms raised
in
a blessing, looks
down on
his church.
Above him
is
Saint James.
A PICTURE-BOOK CHURCH
Everywhere
in the empire,
the subdued and golden light of mosaics. Often every wall, every niche and curving surface
still
in existence
is
Biblical events
From
to
an
the
and
official
scheme. The
finest
comprise
personalities, pieced
Its
150-odd mosaics
art.
101
was Michael
III,
it
is
at his
or not, could
lift
up
their eyes in
any church
in the
all
about them
The
general outlines of this hierarchical scheme are indicated in the floor plan
of Hosios
From
saints
at right.
the lower reaches of the church, representing the earthly world, mosaics of
rise
in order of
from Christ's
life
fill
as
importance into
Lord of the Uni-
dome and other areas in the church. The bema, or sanctuary, is covered by a smaller dome which shows the Twelve Apostles at the
Pentecost, the founding of the Church on earth. From the vault of the apse,
Mary, Mother
of
Mother
of
Cod
nip.
The Pentecost
Fathers of the Church
Early bishops and preachers
Christ Pantocrator
life
Warrior saints
Hosios Loukas
Monks and
martyrs
Christ's
^^
102
Virgin martyrs
Apostles
NARTHEX
103
1 o the
doorway
saics:
left
is
the
drama
of death
and resurrection
He
is
In
it
Christ's
already
dead.
St.
beloved Apostle.
the
,^j
da
^^
in an
act of love
washes the
feet of Peter as
Ranged around
many
to
proper proportions
when
THENARTHEX
is
^^^^^^H
J\loof and austere. Christ as Lord of the Universe faces the narthex above the center door-
He
is
passage in His
hand:
"I
am
Me
the light of
shall not
walk
life."
According
He descended
who had
Adam and
ori-
Solomon and
Je-
Hell.
He had
risen,
is
who had
On
Philip.
105
of the church,
its
square shape
life.
^-J
is
the
The Holy
Spirit descends
"Thou
106
art
My
represents
upon Jesus
in the
form of
God
the Father,
am
who
proclaims:
well pleased."
^'-^
J\ mosaic
of the Nativity
shows
Mary busy
newborn
who
is
]esus,
hem, and
a haloed
is
pensive Joseph
sits at
the
at right.
left.
Behind
move
in
from
in the sky.
itself,
brought
On
to the
fig-
another Jesus
al offering of
two pigeons. At
left,
Simeon,
men
and, above
all,
in the
in the
small
dome
above the
the
Holy
in a circle, starting
ter right)
(center
the descent of
left).
Tongues of
to
fire
to
Paul
all nations.
vj
Mary
is
enthroned both
is
al-
108
whose hand
is
raised
in
blessing.
m
^
din
D
ti
J\
medallion of
St.
whose
Below him
fierce lions
was beloved of
who
He
in the liturgy
is
is
and
109
'
>,,
(.-
*.^
i,'
'
'(
is
the figure
What
looked
no one knows,
Daphni
still
exists
early brilliance.
its
It
and
is
for
it
Church
shown
Si'
of the Virgin at
here restored to
its
works
of
Middle Byzantine
art.
J\ * ^4wk
to
t
down
V \^*n
achievement of the
artist
who
cre-
must remain,
still
as a
110
in existence. His
famous
i.* 1
Christ's piercing
mas-
art historian
has
../ V
^^
^ *
'
I,
i
^P\^
'C-
>
\m. A.
Glimpses of the
lives led
Byzantium may
of
women
still
life
lurks
still
in
in
the
in
and
Aegean
lines
fishing ports.
THE ROUND
OF BYZANTINE LIFE
life
the evidence
amusements
We know
of the rich
we can
many
that occurred in
long
of the empire.
life
com-
good
and poor
women
By-
in
follow changes
We know
the regulations
we can
and
of Constantinople,
tail.
We
is
countryside
we
Finally,
superstition as
rich
The
in the
life
regions, far
ture of
city
circumstances of Byzantine
know
organization
life
brocade
shot
is
through
fibers.
of the Byzantines
if
for self-expression
the Byzantines
were
exposed
to endless
expect
little
of
tranquillity or stability,
life
in this
scene from an
Uth Century
this
did not
it
humanity was
tribulation
Kingdom
it.
illu-
minated manuscript. Their circular dance, musical instruments and headdress recall customs of ancient Greece, a major source of Byzantine culture.
and
it
is
inconceivable
life.
113
too, giving
it
conscious work of
self-
Much
relax.
of their social
On
of-doors.
every social
easy to
it
level, friends
and neigh-
and
and
talking, often
and restaurants;
available in cafes
tables
facilities for
meeting in the
streets
in the great
games
some
at
of these
in
similar to
its
own
leader, or
organists, painters
treasur-
musicians,
cir-
keep order
in the
Hippodrome), stable-
to escape the
tions; they
ers
city walls,
ter's
gardens to
edge, untouched
stroll
woods and
fields that
could
rich played a
form of polo.
For those
preferred city
life,
distractions
strolling niusicians
and itinerant
rooms
at the
official
in
pump
vogue
in
and
to
their hair,
was given
it
ballet
the Western
life
its
was
at the back. It
main
outlet,
er taxes, or the
On
astir.
who
times staged.
The
They wore
peror
tournaments
in his cav-
state occasions.
pantomimes,
who
a racing
Above
at issue
was cheaper
conduct of an unjust
the imperial
box
city
at
oil,
few-
official.
the
Hippodrome
Crowds swarmed
ported
Roman
its
own
The
factions, each of
times, but at
which sup-
had existed
in
life
somewhat on
zations run
art.
left.
Finally,
surrounded by
given signal,
At
and the
of hooves
To
the thunder
races began.
They continued
all
came an
race
aft-
interval.
di-
fish,
vegetables were distributed at the emperor's expense. After the interval, the races were resumed,
in its
seats as the
power
til
though by then
it
was
remained
itself
feats of
use un-
in
by the Latins
in
1204,
horsemanship more
um
was
left
mounts
In the
nople,
exercised their
still
Hippodrome,
the
clothes
as elsewhere in Constanti-
By
Toward
dresses
ionable.
A GOLD NECKLACE, made up of decorative pendants and a cross on a chain
of delicate leafy design,
also were
pieces of jewelry
known
for their
pearls.
it
turbanlike head-
From
vulgar West-
short-
cold.
Women
used
a scarf as a
headdress, winding
Over
a tunic they
wore
it
to the shoul-
heads.
They
115
also
silver;
shaped into
work
filigree
or
la
in the 15th
whom
The
face,
was
more
in her marriage
py
to a
Hap-
them
and washing
re-
herself
by abstaining from
herself
woman
The
it."
Byzantium was
own and
her hus-
life,
she died.
citizens.
The
women
records
and homes
like
show
for the
and
architects of Byzantium.
The
hospital
dowed by John
band.
Woman's
The empress,
Comnenus
II
in the 12th
women.
and
for
tors
of course,
own
had
their
staff of
of
and
a professor
women
notable ex-
On
feast
wine instead
of the usual
would
fall
their pardon.
of
new
doctors.
ments made
of
Many
herbalist
endow-
support of
insti-
everyday
much
of the
life
known
officials.
as
of the system.
peror:
"The Book
It
by the em-
things and
made order
opens with
"Having created
all
in the world,
finger
food,
records survive of
abandon
to
supplementary
tors
Lower down
It
Century,
had important
station.
116
lus,
legal place of a
ture of
forth for
all
God engraved
to see so that
it
the
set
it
might prevent by
A NOMISMA. or bezant, bears the portrait of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. So stable was the value of this gold coin that
it
allocated to
it,
more
their
per-
The
happy
members
discipline the
of the
human fam-
ily
is
It
it
governed as
is
fitting
its
own
guild.
Some
21 major
No man
and tradesmen.
the artisans
all
life
of
could be-
same
city
trade.
was
It
own
its
to be
fairs
had
prefect.
Combining
commercial and
human
moment
the prefect
in the
city's
was the
could at any
own
member
meant compulsory
of a guild
had
re-
to practice
his
own
capital, tools,
raw
no middlemen,
for each
its
own
was
in the
Roman
in
The
best silk
on the
greatest impact
its
The
enterprises.
of law revised
than Christian in
most people.
of
lives
despite
spirit:
both retained;
slaves
tled
at the
rights.
Most
in
taken to
more important
the
suits could be
peror himself,
who was
punishments were
fines,
an eye or
less
and
treason
less
guildsman offered
his prod-
In his control of
and commercial
public
tions,
all
life,
often.
condition
half their
works the
building of
palaces,
ture of armaments.
The
strict,
though
it
is
impossible to
know how
strin-
feet
fortifica-
on
its
consumer
dismiss him.
only his
imports and
all
had
state also
came from
The body
and
exports
on
is
to
extend to
Owners
of pri117
view though
to protect that
if
anyone claimed
had
or Ajax, he
to
tion to appreciate
The
state alone
principal unit
was
monument
Nicephorus
It
was
tural
tates
some 65 grains
a coin containing
was known
in
Byzantium
as the
as the bezant.
to that of
handsome,
merchant, trying
to
brilliant coin;
its
one Byzan-
man
a greater
for the
is
it
at least as
it
life
where
large
es-
As
luxury.
Century one
agri-
around
and
of considerable affluence
culturistand he
a table of ivory
who were
seated
head of
monarch was
as
number
of serfs.
of
life
aristocrat, goldsmith,
Byzantines artisan,
all
when
natural.
an,
wished
It
he described
was not
until
its
was cen-
life
pour
their
came
stition.
Often
it is
and
free
doom never
far off
times in
and
the atmos-
what appears
to
at
some
and necro-
was
all
fleets
it
From
role.
the caravans
religion,
generated.
influence on a person's
life
on the
or even
fate of
the empire.
many
tricts also
had
for re-export.
their
raw ma-
consumption or
Other
cities
they
home
and
dis-
than they do in
many
Constantinople
omens, concealed
plied their
places today.
itself
in
to
Mediums
was believed
mysterious
to be full of
inscriptions
or
own
silk industries,
in the
Peloponnese.
it.
III
of
a statue of Achilles
turies,
tine
such as
that
life
nomisma, elsewhere
value.
was stipulated
view of
a direct
historical significance,
it
owner
in fact,
they
exactly as
it
windmills
still
cobblers
Byzantium, villages
exist
still
where
still
still
life
goes on almost
community
bake bread
in
of
Olympos,
outdoor ovens,
make shoes by hand. Olympos has not been entirely passed over by
its men wear factory-made clothes, for example, and gas burn-
of
Olympos
But
in agriculture
and
religion, in
who
lived there a
in old
Byzantine
right).
The two-headed
bird
was adopted
last
Olympos (far
emblem
as an
Byzantine dynasty,
West and
East.
rjs
>.JN
I.
i:-^?->*;
;^-
"^^ii*
WE^i9l'S.,'
-..->
i^
'^-s.'Si*'...
i:.:^
:-i<:i'.
"Tx
ks::^.'
*''/d
W^-i*.^'t.
^^ -''
.^'-y,
'^'r^'
n.>
,.^
">'.>
''vr
ECHOES OF EMPIRE
IN A RURAL OUTPOST
Olympos, clinging
of
to a
community
fly
the Byzantines,
prob-
The
occasionally
is
Greece.
in
but
village.
is
rives
Olympos much
built
on
As
in
C-fi^K'^!^'->
its
it
was when
was
it
first
of sun-dried bricks
of each house
called a "sofa,"
still
made
room
as
dirt
and
and
grass; the
one large
still
small family
and
altar.
a kitchen
Food
many goods
either
is
Outside
wing where
in
grown by
Olympos
is
The
villagers
supplement
mend
and by
their
a favorite sport
meager
diet
by
woven and
men
for the
to the local
day
at sea in ex-
farms,
built
raids.
121
BAKING BREAD, women work before an outdoor oven that serves several
WINDING YARN,
fl
woman
of
Olympos-like
the Byzantine
woman
families
in
^FS^^^-]
rvr-j
soil.
^^'
g^
yf'.,^ _
>&.*
.*;.
111
?**.
_^':*^.
r'':.*>r
'*^^-
v>
TIMELESS TASKS OF
Farmers were for centuries the backbone of the
Byzantine empire, and they are still the main support of local village economies. In former times the
crops and livestock they raised fed not only their
families but also provided for the aristocracy
and
and supported
same
tasks.
Olympos
When women
chores baking
in
still
labor at the
communal
ovens, embroidering,
lift-
toil in
the fields
their
In
m^^?^
/
k
ORNATE BREAD
^or Easter
is
made with
\Xi^i>^
As
in
The
similarities
are never
is
women bake
Just
ceremonial loaves of
ter
each family
kills a
lamb or young
Lenten
fast
goat, the
first
meat
woman
it
of
dishes and
family
altar.
floor to roof
their
house from
early
come
to
exchange
gifts, kisses
in their neighbors,
and wishes
for a
happy
who
holiday.
125
IN
the Crucifix on
of Christ, the priest has removed the cross from the altar
Good
Friday.
it
church.
in
bright
to
step on the
way back
to
for the
up each
the church.
126
simplified
tions
is
mark
Byzantine
when they
start to learn
musical
nota-
*r^
mourn
the death of
The congregation
gathers in church
On
Sunday
by the
faith-
rain.
to
regular
religious
together with
addition
Olympos
ful.
in
off
involve-
"Yesterday,
you! With
Christ,
you
By-
was buried
arising,
arise."
127
m
'fiti--
^
Si
/i
T**>
.-:*fr
m:J
'^
to>
are
crowned by
Christ in a carved ivory relief that dates from the 10th Century.
.^ ^^v:
A TRADITIONAL
WEDDING
*r
are
many
still
by
arranged
parents almost
the
On
band of musicians
down by
the Byzantines.
the
to the bride's
hand-
always
long-awaited day,
the
their
bridal
party
well-wishers chant
groom on
the back.
in marriage.
129
ON A HOMEMADE BAGPIPE,
AN OLD-STYLE BANQUET
Festivals
IN
AN ANCIENT DANCE,
villagers
move
favorite
during a banquet
diversion of
in a circle
It is
now
in this
held in
same
Olym-
^B
i-J
'-(
I 'N
^ i^y^y^
>
^\
f^
i^'
^>>
>
iki
A.
1^4
\-.
^??5^;
<
Men
sif
together at tables; fo eaf in public with their wives would violate tnuiitiun.
If
the
Olympos on
banquet occurs on
memorial day, as
is
one shown here, the people eat food which they have placed
that
morning
as
is
their dead.
One
kolyua, a mixture of
wheat, nuts and fruit which the Byzantine Christians adopted from the pagan Greeks in the Fourth Century.
may
Only men
and
as
festivals.
131
A WAYSIDE CHAPEL on
the edge of the village, like a score of other small private chapels in
Olympos, was
built
by a pious townsman
in gratitude for
whom
^
.'
V-
..
'
^ \- .----.
he had appealed. In Byzantine timei peaianti often built iuth ihapeli on their property and rededitated then
Vfc
live to
God.
//
centuries,
Byzantine achievements
reflected not only the
the splendor of
in literature
the
The upper
and the
arts
supported
it.
level of
it
was
beauty.
In education
and
cherished
ously
Greco-Roman
their
heritage,
A GLITTERING
CULTURE
and
And
in eccle-
architecture and
zantines found
its fullest,
good education,
in
tween
Added
By-
the
a disgrace.
ivory,
in
to the
To
must
for
anyone
be uneducated was
vinced that
all
The
a
knowledge of
classical
was
There was
become the
tian
civilization,
who were
to
Church.
Through most
of studies remained
many changes
tions.
more
mar, that
is,
the
correct
middle of the Seventh Century Greek had completely taken over. But
ern Greek
PRESERVING THE PAb
in
in Italy.
Byzantium like
where divergence
in
the
mod-
language
is
an abbey near
state,
still
living
issue had
its
linguistic
problems.
there
fied
form akin
to the classical
consciously puri-
Greek of Thucydides
seems
to
have suffered an
tirely absent,
with
all
particularly
Odyssey were by
The
who
the old
men
at
tinople
new
by the Crusaders
saw
passage in which
rightly
Many
tellectuals
of the schools
Alex-
at
425 Theodosius
school at his
II
new
and
capital,
to
in
Con-
at
began
much
works of great
Many
Greek
short
by wit and
a phi-
One
produced orig-
of the fields
in Atticized
was
Greek have
marked
which were
has to
its
credit
all
down
in several versions,
is
dramatic
tale
dark
merit.
poems
a sensitive
land.
ries,
emphasis on the
districts of the
and
in-
to call
then,
inal
was
pride. This
blame
by founding
in
another
breach of pro-
this
know
poetry.
famous
in 1204.
to
of Constantinople
im-
in the
so beautiful
was
alike
it
classics,
They have
several
As
woman's sake
to
by
murmur:
That, for a
who
defied convention
Iliad the
Troy gaze
of
turies
is
from the
Nevertheless,
an
Shocked by
courtier quote
eclipse.
told of
story
and
Iliad
Mos-
Constantinople
literature adhered.
at
the schools at
mal secular
136
now
SINGING BY SYMBOLS
ualistic
ploits in love
Included
tem of signs, as
ern note
Moslem
some,
the
ideal
chivalry hand-
of
the
modern
The symbols,
transcription;
buttons.
The
gold,
shown with
MANUSCRIPT
him
a splendid
enameled
is
is
comes
or neumes, are
some
fair,
house
mod-
its
intervals,
uscript).
mother, appears as
to a sys-
and kid-
Digenes, son of a
illustrated in a
ill,
and as he
life,
dies, his
the
warrior-hero be-
Many
of judgment, scope
field
him.
enriched by the
and
critical
works
maturity. Procopius
in the Sixth
reI
h e
women
ther.
=>
Emperor Alexius
I.
The memoirs
-/i-
at?
f
literature
in quality
by
religious
crow
tra
many
in
and
verse. St.
Basil,
St.
St.
Gregory of Nyssa,
St.
-
i
ij
it
lit-
John
ftt.rnding
nolf
vluff
ttond
with fttCCIO
Chrysostom,
yv
INTLRV AL^
cnding r<ond
WITH ACtlNTS
sometimes
^1^
=H'^T^ nr-f^n^
of John VI
\^
doubled
to h)
Gregory of
drtcrnding nond
Nazianzus,
St.
Maximus
equals
among
Chris-
(J
lO
ft)
dcndinft ihird
to
1)
M mding
*t ond
notr
valu*
ptolonsd by h)f
tian authors.
137
The
tually
poetical
hymns
unmatched
and some
West-
ern world.
They combine
matic and
human
lyrical
an
Byzantium
of
in Christian literature,
recalls the
drama
of the an-
Among
ern Europe.
outstanding hymnodists
the
some
in the
hymns
mum,
Aegean coast
the
and that
of Anatolia.
sprang
region
From
the
near
cities
those centuries
basic
architectural
dome and
the centralized
But
it
common
tom,
Fifth
in
Roman
directly
tombs.
by the cus-
Century Greek
basilicas
Eighth Century
of the Byzantine
who
lar
created
of the finest
forfeited a
devoted her
life
poems, and
St.
nun
as a
to
Simeon the
composing
New
religious
Theologian,
who
ice that
Greek
cross.
Not only
tecture, too,
secular
little
archi-
in
outshone
ligious field
Very
in literature
its
architecture of
the
Byzantine
are
seem
to
and,
Roman
umphs
design.
many
Soon
of
which fortunately
after the
launched themselves on
among them
architects
The
changed but
dislittle
in palaces
and
in public build-
idea of a
had
tian martyrs,
and
and
is
Persia. It
in the
its
is
kind
a particular
domed
Rome
buildings of
Byzantine
dome as
new
architectural style.
Byzantium's architecture,
stand.
over a millennium.
tri-
architectural
its
ings,
it
on church buildstill
where
not
of Byzantine ar-
A num-
lar
ar-
ings,
do
general,
in
in their designs.
villas
cheological excavations
re-
ceilings of
Late each
distinct in
Byzantine period,
its
characteristics.
The
ment
Middle and
in building design
Early
to
the
lively experi-
in
which
first
estab-
phia, built
is
and sophisticated
enormous
tine architecture.
it
complex
is
unique plan,
its
extraordinary richness of
its
the
size,
basic outline,
its
Constantinople,
examples. Clear in
in
among
But
the
at
same time
very
its
away
the hemisphere's
left
four spherical
tri-
dome
or hemisphere could
was
The
small.
core of
was
cross-
dome over
the in-
the building
rise.
tersection of the
arms of the
barrel vaults
cross;
was
rectangular plan.
Though
was
dows
rior
set in the
was
dome and
The church's
walls.
composed
exte-
of only a
single-
styles
of
styles of their
church
design
much
or
of their ear-
developed
new
largely independent
little
examples
in those areas; in
basilicas,
tural device
series
used
to
of overlapping
dome
the square.
masonry arches
was
The
Its
laid
result-
rarely,
if
ever, used. In
more
some extent on
Now
to
single
domed
made up
Ninth
era (late
core
all
of these churches
common
in Italy,
The exception
chitectural traditions.
in Venice; St. Mark's,
however,
copy of
resembled
however, the
by sharply
many
it
made
in
into
smaller,
a single arch,
it
as a result
every sur-
finely
wrought.
it
ar-
Mark's
much
not so
Constantinople,
by
built
an 11th Century
of
same name.
The
most of
until
the
fall
of
Constantinople in 1453.
and
out,
verticality,
both inside
this effect as
much by
umns,
piers
and buttresses
as
dome over
Although
Constantinople
remained
relatively
their interiors;
were frequently
set
in
on the
The
ly
a variety of roof
rested
upon
windows
levels,
jected
A number of
al
is
is
St.
is
exteriors bricks
ornamented
series of
a Sixth
Holy Apostles
the
In
four-corner bays
and gave
piers.
visual link
re-
by Western
it
intricately
em-
its
earlier
it is
to archi-
Eighth Century,
it
remembered.
chiefly
is
all
music and
in
who
to decorate their
help them.
The
art
produced
in
Constantinople es-
displayed
glorified
In addition,
their
talent
itself in
The
was
ments
In
nople.
the
The
wanted
when
church
to
which
As
Church
and
importance was
in the capital.
all
was
Its
principal antecedent
and
of the catacombs at
Rome.
was the
seat of the
emperor and
shrank
it
their
home;
Though
quartered there.
made
the wealthy
all
and continuity of
cul-
one
city affected
First,
past; he
12th Century
was never
artist in
far
artists.
Constan-
from his
Undoubtedly he
in so
artistic
tried
to
selves
its
dom
of
movement and
attention
was given
free-
to facial
of Christianity had
been decreed,
this
art
came
interiors.
upon
The
art
Christians
now began
to
new
late
growth of
style
radiated
out
from
the
capital
in
beyond
as a shepherd, for
veritable streams.
ivories
doing he naturally
what he saw.
art
gen-
Its style, if
Second,
that
art in several
Byzantine
was mainly
funda-
earlier
It
Constantinople's continuity of
Byzantine
this art
mental ways.
develop-
artistic
borders.
were summoned
The
to
city's
artists
them-
own
From
adopted
and Fifth Centuries these two styles the continuation of classic naturalism
and themes
Century
re-
The
in nonreligious objects.
Greek mythology.
existing great
too successfully.
finest pieces
The
took
successful
first
is
most
place.
classicism or reliance
on
pure abstract
hand,
is
up
na, with
These works
and
its
The
solidity
naturalistic figures
its
cal figure,
classi-
to
in linear, stylized
human
face
was sub-
stituted, flat
a
more abstract
in only
summary way.
Even though
abstract styles
ivories
is
found
in
media including
number
of
works
illustrating
was
still
scenes from
clearly
very
the
show
much
life
and
of
that a re-
alive.
These
are
among
David
is
plates, in fact,
and
Nuovo
fully
Cen-
at
Raven-
rounded
figures,
in a
St. Peter,
which
is
the pre-
at
Mount
Sinai in Egypt.
tiqua at
Among
are the
figures are
static
The
main
great
stantinopleat Ravenna,
Mount
far
Sinai,
from Con-
Rome and
reflect the
in
capital. Unfortunately,
almost
What
The
dark
in these
and
their lifelike
and the
style.
the
142
works
embody
seems
to
the
Byzantine
art
is
large,
many
made
form
in the
Seventh Century
to the
practice of icon-worship,
garded as
When
the late
in
which many
ing
Na-
the
as taking place
in the
for line
line
whether they
employed certain
books
be recognizable by distinctive
in a cave; the
re-
much
religious
was
most
largely ignored.
The
the
of
in
larger
less of position.
decorative
art,
such as patterns of
be used
foliage,
scripts. In 843,
effect
calculated:
it
Justified
was
in
Byzantine
to
play
surface,
art
than
place.
its
The
place.
total
larly
late
Ninth
to early
become known
Greek word
for "sacred."
its
as
"hieratic,"
The
icon
the
all,
distinctive style,
one
from the
demanded con-
less
tity
portant; his
Thus
human
qualities
was im-
were de-emphasized.
characteristics of the
and
It
solidity,
as
its
mass
in
Middle Byzantine
art
seem two-dimensional,
al-
still
interior. Individual
show
resented
was
rigidly prescribed
by
tradition
and did
such
way
as to
the hierarchy of
God was
Church
placed in the
doctrine.
dome
of
Below Him,
in order
importance,
of
ranked the
scheme or cycle of
bland, countenances.
rep-
in
in
was
in
and scenes
preserved
a subject
art:
Constantinople
in
the
Although no complete
remains
magnificent example
is
in
main developments
of this iconographic
143
art
full
period works of
art
many
less varied
than in
of holy figures
chical order of
The
typical
Middle Byzantine
hieratic qualities of
first in
abstract
or
art
to
particularly
ian's reign,
classical
Nuovo.
Con-
was further
duced
on
exquisite example
is
Museum,
in
now
An
in the
ations.
earlier ages; in
maintained in
fresco
in
reasons of
for
were
standards
artistic
and
mosaics
which largely
paintings
economy virtually
pletely
no longer
on the
its
felt
liveli-
Heaven amid
a host of attend-
static.
The
Adam
out of Hell.
saw
new
phasis was
now
in
a return to
kind.
Em-
stem from
From
classical antiquity.
abstract style.
Thus most
was
on,
however, the
in the sophisticated
in precious metals of
the
figures,
With
ling features.
Throughout
by the Cru-
artists
The production
ries, a
abruptly.
most
art
works seems
Illuminated
ever, continued to be
no interruption
its
ceased
classical art
more
of
for ex-
hieratic convention.
144
tine
manuscripts,
made, and
in the
to
their style
Middle Byzantine
have
howshows
style of
and works of
art.
Never was
this influence
of Byzantine art.
To
this era
and
at
rious beginnings of
Cavallini,
finest flowering of
the
Sicily.
The
glo-
art.
this
A CHRIST IN MOSAIC
is
it
for centuries.
TRADITIONS OF BEAUTY
Over
life,
carved exquisite ivories, painted frescoes, illuminated manuscripts, worked precious metals and
to stimulate
wove
silks.
The mood
of their art
was
was
flour-
ished wherever the empire held sway: in Constantinople, Greece, the Balkans,
aly, Syria,
dirt
works some
of
It-
them
artists still
evoke admiration.
145
AT NORMAL VIEWING DISTANCE. Shadrach, Meshach and Ahed-nego, the three holy children of
the Bible, are seen in their fiery furnace.
mosaic, with
its
glittering gold
This
background,
is
Church of Hosios Loukas in Greece. Outfor mosaics were first made on the rough
in the
lines
wet
IN
them
in
place.
of white
is
face,
and browns
to
suggest shad-
are
used
for
the
bottom of clear
glass.
Other colors
it
was made.
SEEN CLOSER
becomes an
intri-
To make the
slabs of stone
up
146
pieces,
and colored
side;
odd
sizes
were used
to
called
glass were
of an
fill
tesserae,
broken
inch on a
awkward
spots.
imum
impact
the walls
as the curious
to the large
quick glance
at
men not,
as
suggest, by
were designed
to
be clear,
seen from
when
human
distance, as
on
church. Yet
all
manner
a gra-
background enhanced by
to
the light.
EARl\ BYZANTltiE:
is
SUBTLE SHIFTS
IN
STYLE
MIDDLE BYZANTINE:
An
particularly
is
manner known
as hieratic,
mean-
not so
much
to picture
men and
make
man
man measure
about seven
reduced
'H't
to
Hat,
LATE BYZANTINE
heads
tall);
"if
the
man
is
above
many
for
much
the
his
on the
15
and
demand
now shows
mysteries. Nevertheless,
many
life
how
Byzantine
activity,
from the
thousand years of
Greece and
finally to a
artists
The examples
moved, during
classical influences of
the
East,
and
of naturalism.
149
ON WOOD
NOW
PANEL,
IN VENICE
MT
SINAI
MADE
IN
CONSTAMIXOPLE
UNCHANGING PRECEPTS
FOR PORTRAITURE
were required by
Artists
the
Church and
the state to
instantly recognizable to
of this policy
was
human
ardized
their
clients primarily
make
a portraiture that
pictures
their
One
beholders.
all
used
result
stand-
face to
dis-
Peter
St.
and
St.
Demetrios clad
to
and purple,
St. Peter in
was
to
be clothed
by the
artist,
but rules
When working
for the
Church,
artists
first
them.
were also
re-
image believed
to
porary witness, or
many ways
(left),
from
in
and
profiles in glass
IS
the
shown
same desert
At
the top
he
asis
he
is
classical in style,
is
named
owned
it.
ARTISTRY IN IVORY
The Byzantines'
love of luxury
is
evident in the
India, Africa
was an expensive
art,
Many
flourishing only in
THE HARBAVILLE TRIPTYCH, also named
artistic influences
for
played upon
it.
is
descend-
Rome,
appropriate
152
and
more
formal
is
executed in the
hieratic
manner.
ter
in
its
cen-
by Mary and
St.
the Apostles.
^^T*
^^^
153
^31^1 ^j^J
^^K^^^S^^3
'>a#P^^^^|
"^t
**fc^>^i'
I
w"-
^v*"*
,-.v'
..^^^^^^^1
T^M/^^^M
^HlMlB'
%^^4^^H
.^-^ "^k
^<
*.<
^H ^^lOS^
r^. ^^^^^^T^_i^rv
^^B
^^HKl
^s.
^;*y:\o.S'
'^v.
rji^i*
^.''jk
jMi ^^l^^^nj
lH^'
F--
\^\N
^""^v.
/!'
i^9? f /
^^r,
%V
:-
f"
)&^
'*
^
'
--*^*
'
.-;>^w,
?,^
-^^ipr^
't^-*MJ^
f^^
'
i-
J C
'
-JL
'
ILLUMINATIONS ROMANTIC
The
scribes
who
who
illustrated
The manuscripts
art.
them were
Psalms
now
stricter.
in
more
text.
The
Bible,
artists
left,
from
famous Book of
in Paris, this
freedom
is
reflected in
from the
SEVERE
ly
AND
turgical
Church-dictated approach
literal
miniatures from
book used
in the
life
is
seen below
synaxarion, a
li-
a daily
demands
his
Music,
looks
over
his
is
of
shoulder and
column.
figures
Book of
Isaiah
before
left.
155
V-^
MASTERWORKS
N FRESCO
The
St.
^^^^i
Church of
through the
moval of
The
re-
figures
in the apse
who
right.
the
of
Below
left
are portraits
Orthodox Church
in
was practiced
in
Byzantium mainly
after
Clement are
as those in St.
bargain-rate
far
more than
art.
9^\^
names
chael in this
these artists
vices, they
men who
signed
their
to their
case).
Moreover, although
some hieratic
made good use of
retained
also
dethe
compares
local
the
in quality
paintings of Pompeii
styles.
frescoes
Their
shown
^I^S
lie ^Mm
1
H
Ik
M
1^ Jm
ak^ fi
^i J
1
ft.
ri^
^^>>^
bi-i
\N
#;><
f
c v"-*^
^^j _
\
/
'^
/'
'0
J'
^1
"'"'w
^f^
f^
m iHl^^v
'^mii
i.
^''
%j0
\'^P^-'r;'
.'#'<
':\
-^_
\*
SMALLER TREASURES
Along with
its
brilliance in
gold-
Some
fine enamels.
ob-
much
lit
arts:
gem-encrusted jewelry,
silver spoons,
windows
and
workshops
of the imperial
in
Constan-
The
two thorough
spared
is
in
Constantinople
Cyprus
A SILKEN TAPESTRY
time,
in
sol-
depicts
Mary
of this art.
Constantinople itself
of
Where
it
has survived,
who
it
carried these
who
tells
Byzantine
who
her
158
in
It
little
pillages
A JEWELED RELIQUARY
(right)
shows Christ
at
its
center,
surrounded
by Mary, John the Baptist and the Apostles. Taken as war booty
from the imperial treasury
in
1204,
it is
now
in a
German
cathedral.
m<'Jii*
fe^
-J
6lamiHlMiLii
Ki'
iii^JMie
'f
That
intelligent
saw no
icler of
He deplored
members of
to disparage.
another
in
"The
was
imperial treasury
like a river,
to
"
He
power between
conflict for
the capital
dangerous
also described a
nobility.
Although
were
at
ward
its
some
to-
of the
come
fatal.
The
doom
after
Byzantium
to its
bound
all
There
trade,
tition in
drop
One
of these
which
led eventually
to a
severe
in
in-
Church
at
Rome and
stantinople,
which
the Eastern
in the
empire's disadvantage.
Moslem Turks.
It
Church
at
Con-
And
finally, there
were the
that in the
Byzantium.
was evident.
Macedonian dynasty
ertcamps in gay
in 1056, the
allied
this
ers,
none of
first
Alexius
and
Comnenus succeeded
his success
marked the
The French
artist
who
painted this scene in 1455 gave the city the look of a Gothic fortress.
The
reigns of Alexius
Comnenus
(1081-1118),
161
son John
his
Manuel
was
and
(1118-1143),
grandson
his
gifted
He dreamed
tium
II
man soldier,
might of Byzan-
just as Justinian
Roman
that of the
statesman, theologian.
though without
itself,
many
among
Though
West produced
this
to
the Byzan-
to
many
were forced
to sell their
farms
small landholders
to the increasingly
come from
the
power
Comnenus
It
family,
which
had
itself
At the same
time, pressure
From
to
it
state.
stirred
by the sight of
reli-
now planned
Guiscard
possessions
to
in
southern
conquer the
Italy.
rest of the
To counter
Norman
the
and naval
Owing
Com-
aggression, Alexius
own
to the assistance of
man
the
attack,
land
forces,
checked.
Nor-
their aid
among the other Italian maritime repubMore important, it meant that a Western pow-
jealousy
lics.
er
had obtained
empire
As
itself.
Alexius' successors
came
to
de-
to
a steady
purely theological
(e.g.,
Spirit
in gold or
been circulated
by
tles
Italian
and
of the
cloisters of
Italy.
To
this traffic
political
and
cul-
the Son, as
creed).
it
was
stated in the
political.
The crowning
by the Pope
of
in the year
amended Latin
political,
Charlemagne
or
as
quasi-
emperor
at
versal status
Many
Western
ruler
lure
the Byzantine
all
Norman
mans. By 1071,
to
the Byzantines
was
press
its
claims
to
to
Roman
subject to the
Rome and
ju-
newly con-
was
in control of
among
On
his death,
the
settled in
ily.
and
Cyril
St.
of,
Central Europe.
Methodius
St.
Moravia
in
in
when
in
the Byzantines
The
was
Byzantine
in
territories in
Churches
The
Rome and
of
As
fall
been
in contact
Byzantium
of
to the Turks.
Turkish
were forced
tribes
contacts increased.
fact married
Two
to
move westward,
princesses
of
one of
Judaism
these
who had
in
Turkish
the
converted
city surrendered
Khorezm,
seat
without
of
the
struggle,
of sultan
title
caliphate.
and the
and temporal
Constantinople in 1054.
territory of
it
ruler
conquests and by
their
warriors
had been
Turkish armies,
led
tle
the
He
Europe and
and
prisoner.
lenient
released the
Emperor on
his ad-
fairly
easy
had sup-
Other Turkish
tribes
to
who
empire from Baghdad. Many of
now
virtually defense-
ruled
less,
his theocratic
these
Christians or
It
Moslems
who
first
central
became
power
of
a threat to
Turk
to build
up
ni.
Moslem
first
name
of
title
accordingly.
Baghdad
the
Mahmud
of
half-
Ghaz-
Mahmud
and
fighters.
Encountering
little
or no opposition,
they penetrated into Byzantine territory, and settled the areas into
and
lands
villages unoccupied.
By
ers
^^^4
BLACK SEA
Ani
1065
icomedia
Manzikert
1337
1071
X^icaea
1329
X Angora
Bruia
1402
X Caesarea
1067
ANATOLIA
(Asia Minor)
Territories lost
by 1092
lost
by 1350
^H
Territories lost
by 1402
^^M
Territories lost
by 1453
EB3i Territories
Some important
Miles
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
battlefields
at the ghazis'
and sought
to organize
When
kingdom.
this
them
the early
in
Church
to
of the Orient
is
causes
its
by the sword of
members
the
spir-
henchmen
his
it
lest at
any time
di-
spirit the
rough
line
districts
lia,
which
and the
left
fertile valleys of
One
most
of the
western Anato-
in control of the
whole hinter-
Konya.
West
As
went on
it
By-
aroused
Byzantium.
to capture
ened.
The
papacy, anxious
to
Byzantium
to
expand
grow and
its
the
Roman
as a land to be "saved."
umphs
as a
in Asia
croaching darkness,
while
was seen
key
as the vital
to
to papal
itself
dominion over
The
tempted than
less
Pope Ur-
year later
ban
a
papal
powers of en-
Constantinople
II
the
Hermit managed
were easily
later
tri-
Roman Church
the
164
100
came
to reach Anatolia,
killed off
real
by the Turks.
where they
few months
Norman
adventure and a
The By-
cities
200
in
Minor and
tmarkt'd
left
b\j
the Balkans
to
itself
tioch after
it
1453.
in
to Constantinople's rule.
fell
for
Norman army
restoration of a deposed
that
throne.
made him-
up other
sa,
and
II,
in
it
in
of Antioch,
In 1147, the
West
signs of the
through more
the
Norman
against
It
to
emperor
de-
show
Behind him,
and
clerics alike.
to
Holy
set forth.
It
later the
failed to regain
threat
time by the
German
king.
the
Third Crusade
During
this
dispute with
made
attack on
the
Frederick's
At
last
city,
for
an
demands and
in 1203, the
the threat
was
averted.
dispatched for Egypt and the Holy Land, was actually diverted to Constantinople.
The
diversion
elderly doge
30 years
earlier,
through exposure
to a
where frenzied
prosti-
which the
to
ta-
their loot.
swept
city,
sol-
of Byzan-
much
as
Hagia Sophia
gambled with
"Oh,
by
soldiers
rose in lament:
in
drunken masses
City,
seriously considered
itself.
libraries,
hands
set to singing
In 1187 the
he
sert."
tute
moment
us,
tells
and
of France at one
was taken
is
manner
all
seizing Constantinople
com-
of
tine island of
was the
Byzantine
to the
by
won no
political
Byzantium began
clearly. In the
III
The
plicated
"fall
called forth
St.
over.
principalities at Edes-
Byzantium's cortquest.
An-
The Crusaders
John
The
from
retained
The
voice of
city,
eye of
all
Nicetas
all
cities,
abode of
the
cup
good!
all
Thou
which
in
days of
What was
was carted
er of the
and
off.
No
fire
or
vandalism
silver,
silks,
not destroyed by
fur,
the
samite and
The
treasure
was taken
off
in a single city.
filtered
165
to all corners of
town
scure
of
Limburg on Lahn
in
Germany
to in-
to
Constantinople, the
a belt stretching
larly
As
the Genoese,
members
of the former
to establish
themselves
dominated
still
crippled,
machinery
now
largely
local governors.
them the
European
lands. In the
number
up
proved unable
by
turn).
empire
were
set
Emhow-
of the Latin
Latin conquerers,
The
local
forced
his successors
had
difficulty
keeping their
by Genoa, Venice's
trade.
The
Latin-installed
rival
for
He was
its
little
it
the final
its
last
the Palaeologus.
were
Eastern
the
phase of
pire
as-
brilliant
off
final
intellectually
centuries,
and
em-
though they
artistically,
were
in
tion.
By
of the city
population two
its
and grandson
grew
short,
vanished.
centuries
earlier.
"The
court
the robes
sixth
As money
but
the
tinsel,
all
vassals in check.
fled,
state (John V,
territories of the
The
times,
is-
pire of Constantinople.
civil
weakened the
ever,
Continuing
quarrels further
tic
landowners and
on many of the
in vassalage to
great
that insured
to
the islands.
The
princes.
empire's
the
166
con-
temporary observer.
Most ominous
been built up
in
of
all,
to
Although
the
initially
as the Seljuk
pact of the
mans gained
their
independence
Mongol
invasions. In 1301
a first victory
the Otto-
at
In 1326
comedia
in 1337. In
the Dardanelles
at
in
1365 they
Adrianople. In
1387
Salonika
Kossovo
fell.
in 1389,
and
Peloponnese. By 1397
zantines
was the
area north of
Peloponnese.
it,
was
that
all
city of
Serbs
the
at
in
left
to the
Constantinople and
some
as well as
territory
By-
small
in
the
saved by the
erlane,
Ankara
at
defeated the
Ottoman
forces
breathing space
now
for Constanti-
among
the Ot-
some
of their losses.
assist-
was submission
Over
about
a reconciliation
made
to bring
Lyons
by
union with
Rome
at the
Andronicus
II.
to the
Pope
in
Council of
in 1274,
his son,
Italy.
making
to the
Orthodox Church
think
to
left
them
Grand Admiral
and
Ferrara and
first at
at Florence.
union be-
a declaration of
Though some
Orthodox representa-
of the
encouraged.
And
was
It
to
be
commanded by
the
in
West were
stantinople.
at the walls of
Con-
gus, decided to
last
effort to enlist
West-
to
It
was
the final
new
In 1451, a
Sultan,
at
Mehmet
To make
the strength
inherited the
II,
ices
killed.
Western attempt
city's
Mehmet
attack,
sure that
walls
enlisted the
cause they could not afford to pay him. The engineer, offered every facility
sive
large
caliber,
smash
the mas-
The
largest
of
these
meas-
of the walls.
monster
of
to
enough
to be big
masonry
cannon was
the Sultan's
which were
ular attitude.
in
then
of bishops
Rome.
to
number
in July of 1402.
There was
it
fired balls
weighing
1,200 pounds.
Mehmet
troops were
made up
of
men born
These
to the Sultan's
ish
demanded by
child
were brought up
to
in special
and most of
guard
own
The boys
regi-
at
On
ish troops
April 18 a
was repulsed.
On
and dedi-
The Turkish
Mehmet
On March 23, 1453, he set out from AdrianOn the fifth of April he arrived outside the
tions.
ople.
walls of
The
logus.
city
its
positions.
at
Constantinople. That
city,
resi-
weakened, im-
all
that
was
left
ar-
had previously
boom
prodigious
tactical
surprise.
break
tried to
guarding
an Italian
bility of
dence
fleet
Templars.
Not
day,
and constituted an
all
by Turk-
assault
first
religious-
to marry,
heroic.
in the walls.
elite,
den
It
was probably
in his
The
it.
the possi-
dragged an entire
fleet
over the
flat
terrain
that
all
of
Mehmet was
Nevertheless,
weeks
command.
at his
more than
took
It
mile of roadway
several
15 galleys,
later
reach Constantinople.
Constantine
a force
ants.
rallied to the
comprising
all
military men.
tian
The
were professional
the Sultan's
final
prep-
cannon
continuous volleys
fired
Horn and
black
the
at the
smoke
to hide
bil-
the
ac-
tivities there.
At dawn
the following
day
command
sion began.
More than 70
latter
under the
of his can-
fantastic proces-
and
to shore.
Teams
men
to the
It
pace as thou-
dragged
ment began.
To
entrance to the
On
a frantic
non
of the brilliant
for-
to lay
work assumed
arations.
168
bombard-
pause for
sails
up
fifes
were fully
sat at their
CONQUEROR OF CONSTANTINOPLE,
allowed his soldiers
made
Mehmet II
He
new
turned a number of
its
silver
dens,
its
fighting for
Paradise.
its
fine gar-
girls
would enter
Faith
the
Those who
lived
into
directly
tradition-
al
Inside Constantinople
solemn
and chief
trial
be ready to
He
citizens.
told
them
It
this
who paced
monstrous
numbed Constantinople's
into
down
lumbering
flotilla
slithering
The
alongside.
Golden Horn
the
The
defenders.
city's
long
by land and
attack.
sea, the
Turks
in early
May
still
move
must
die,
might triumph.
able to
command-
who were
still
Greeks, Italians
what was
be the
to
and
soldiers
citizens,
took
part
Christian service
last
in
be
to
tian empire.
When
the service
and Greeks,
Italians
the Byzantines.
On May
25
the
Sultan made
proposal
for
head of the
weak spot from which the spearattack was expected. As they passed
on condition that an
peace: he
city
if
they gave up
tion.
seven-
their
re-
newed. Toward dusk on the 29th the Sultan addressed his ministers and his
army
leaders.
He
that
them
its
treasures,
its
palaces,
its
churches
filled
re-
the
of
with
Then he
made
too took
up
his station.
back.
wave
It
of
seemed
But by mistake
left
open
To
the
the cries
of the soldiers
after
fifes,
to be
beaten
it
to leave his
down
to a
Genoese troops
left
Genoese
Many
ship.
of
his
had
own
whole
the
Balkan world. In
saries to charge.
They
way over
forced their
Turkish
flag
was flown
was
lost.
Byzantine emperors,
last of the
knew
its
lands
it
survived in the
mem-
tient
monk from
their
One Orthodox
kept
the
in
later,
more against
of the
Christian
however,
state,
still
its
many ways
seen again.
day
pillage permitted
The
three-
When
al-
which he
let fall
on
his
him
up
the
at
earth,
turbaned head as an
and
As he
"The
zantium.
watches
calls the
in Afrasiab's towers."
It
was
to
served.
Though
Emperor had
the sacred
fallen, the
the
fall
to exist as a
political
Byzan-
entity.
As
the ancient
III
of
Moscow had
grew out
of the Renaissance,
Byzantium had
mission as
ful-
an Orthodox
mankind
into a single
human
all
and pur-
married Prin-
Byzantium
itself,
dynastic link was the force of the idea, of the mysvision of a sacred Christian society under the
tical
to
Byzantine
tine
title
The
as the bridge
its
Russia by inheritance.
rial
With
its
handful of
170
on
historical
Christian form by
1918.
On
las
and
at
II,
Byzantium lasted
Ekaterinburg and
Nicho-
had come
to
an end.
Byzan-
flies
STRONGHOLDS OF BYZANTIUM
The Byzantine
tradition lives
on today
in
far
and
and situated
in
on moun-
Roman
to change,
this iso-
Orthodox monks
still
in
and
tell
^-;-.>,
^fi%0-s
4STV.^^
IV Wi^
^^ -^
.V-.
--
-i'-*-
'^
-^^
^^. i
><^,
RELIGIOUS OASIS
One
of the world's
the foot of
Mount
first
Sinai
.,
lies
at
it
'^rr
^"^
'M/
^>>^
'"*
*^f
r^/:'^"
*^r,
<r
^.^4^^!x'
^
4A*
^
P
'
^
*
>':
Century,
St.
of
Christendom
to
worship
Old Testament,
St.
at
who
the
received
Catherine's original
walls
still
Justinian
still
work
whom
for the
gifts
Ef?r
r 'if
I-:.
,^.-
'-'
^.C*?i^
HOLY MOUNTAINS
After
its
of Byzantium:
all
by the
men lived as
began when a her-
monks.
monastery usually
band of pious
followers,
who
eventually organ-
Me-
Mount Athos
la in
(right). Isolated
on
narrow peninsu-
mitages of
to function
un-
AN AERIAL RETREAT,
the
monastery
of
Roussanou
at
(left),
crowns a
hilltop
only
nets;
CLIFF
now
steps
DWELLINGS
lead
to
the peaks.
caves and
who were
the
Her-
Today
its
itself
cells
house 80 monks.
175
-(
M.
lA.
the
father of
Orthodox monk
tive ideal
pouse
of
talk
Httle,
"
still
pursues
the
three
even though
(left),
brother of
vows
the
Greek word
for "holy."
Mount
Almost every
A SILENT
MOMENT during
monk reads
occurs as a
John's Monastery on
Patmos
Island.
400 years
in 1088.
later,
Patmos and
When
is
and
of
Constantinople
hundreds of refugees
The
for the
fell
fled to
all
from the
in
Obedience
their walls.
are
daily schedule
profound, for
profits
frugal
of
is
and then
To
women
fasting,
within
meditating and
pray-
for
ensure
cultivated by a rigorous
many men
dwell
all
meals.
es-
poverty,
monk
contempla-
Most monks
WORK
this
Saint
16 centuries ago.
pledged to uphold
DEEP IN
instructed
to
at
sleep
a
time.
iiiiiiiiinTTiT;]?
-'-'
'V^/
'
yr^% 1H
l-t-, J
*.i><^
^^
^u
^4
ii-
i
^.,1*>
^HtfH
M
^-
LIVING
%-^.,
^.J-
Life
is
a total
asteries
ical
178
was
monks' "angel-
When
the
members
j:.'
-f
M'
b.
sit
beneath By-
listen to a broth-
even
now
in
"
179
.^'iT
-.r
A CONTINUING CALL TO
During the
last
monks
asteries
Mount
steep decline.
Only
mon-
of
lived
War
vors.
PIETY
Byzantium,"
prosper.
ties.
As
as the
monks
call
its
this
"Ark
Mount Athos,
own
complexi-
disillusioned will
?^^
is
three years
and
exhumed
after
their skulls.
monk
strikes a
ANNOUNCING PRAYERS,
wooden gong,
or
when
APPENDIX
AD
CROSSROAD
CIVILIZATIONS BETWEEN
EAST AND WEST
The chart
at right
is
designed to
show
the
it
to others in the
"Crossroad" group
group of volumes of
chart
is
excerpted from
this series.
a
maThis
comprehensive
Com-
impor>.
On
ical listing
is
chronolog-
183
"
CHRONOLOGY: A
becomes
324
Constantine
3Z5
First
330
Constantinople, the
614
Jerusalem
337
626
Constantinople
361
The Harbor
635
Arab conquest
363
Treaty with Persians results in loss of the empire's Armenian lands and
638
Jerusalem
641
Arabs begin
649
The Arabs'
668
Emperor Constans
668
sole
Ecumenical Council
in the
new capital
of Julian
is
610
called at Nicaea
is
Empire,
is
dedicated
constructed at Constantinople
much
of those
Mesopotamian region
374
St.
378
The Aqueduct
379
Theodosius
390
The
395
of Valcns
is
of Milan
completed
in the center of
Constantinople
obelisk of Theodosius
is
erected in the
Hippodrome
400
404
St.
John Chrysostom
Hagia Sophia
Theodosius
II
is
is
their
first
Arabs begin
Carthage, the
of Persia
falls to
673
447
The
455
Rome
463
The monastery
474
476
The
last
triple walls is
II
damaged by earthquake
is
founded
of
Anastasius
717
is
begun
Omar
conquest of Egypt
murdered
bath at Syracuse by a
in his
member
of his entourage
on Constantinople
falls to
the Arabs
Arabs begin another siege of Constantinople, but are defeated by the emperor -general
Leo
Rome
is
in the resulting
C.726
Construction of Constantinople's
is
Empress Eudoxia;
succeeds Arcadius
410
West comes
to
is
an end
III,
The
who
732
Charles Martel
750
751
Ravenna
is
762
Baghdad
is
780
787
Seventh and
797
marries the Empress Ariadne, becomes emperor and reigns for 27 years
is
last
collapses and
el
is
Mansur
and condemns
The
politically
own son
in
to
Nicaea
become
800
500
518
Justin
525
Antioch
527
Justinian,
I,
destroyed by earthquake
is
nephew
of Justin
I,
The Church
529
The Code
532
Nika
of Saints Sergius
of Justinian
riots;
is
its
cultural
and Bacchus
is
erected
construction
is
in
fire
during
cistern
Justin
578
Tiberius
II
800
The
802
in
Rome
West
is
813
Leo
820
Phrygian Michael
829
Reign of Theophilus begins and coincides with period of Muslim culture's greatest
842
The
the
influence
815
and
565
590
is
697
burned
413
491
hero in wars
700
riots,
408
a military
Roman
of the
II
V on Christmas
on Byzantium
iconoclastic controversy
comes
to
the arts
II
860
867
Basil
on the Byzantine
capital
'900
1200
MM
1201
913
Th rmpcTor-tchoiar. Conslantin
1204
Constantinople
927
941
Russians
944
make surpnse
1204
Theodore
1222
lohn
Russians
94>
Romanus
one of Byzantium
I.
Nicephorus
John
97e
The
monk
1261
III
becomes the
Lascaris
first
of the
Irene,
Creek emperors
daughter of Theodore
Empress Theophano.
to the
1274
Macedonian Dynasty.
Basil
Basil
1025
Basil dies
11,
Romanus
C.I290
II
St.
Savior in Chora
Ihe
Church
is
Roman
1^46
1064
1349
The Tower
1067
1354
1071
Byzantium
St.
the
Savior Panlrpopte
is
is
Normans and
in
Hagia Sophia
at the Battle of
Manzikert: Bari
is
is lost
1061
1096
The
1099
The Kingdom
First
concluded
Alexius
is
built
1091
Crusade
is
to the
captured by
of Jerusalem
is
of Calata
is
added to
is
1359
1391
Manuel
1393
built in Constantinople
lo the walls of
falls to
the
Turks
Constantinople
at Ihe Battle of
Kossovo
II
who
500 years
1397
Constantinople
is
attacked by the
1400
by Timur
Ankara
11 II
1402
The Turks
1120
The monastery
1422
Constantinople
1425
1430
Ottoman
I43S
The Council
of Si Savior Panioiraior
is
founded
149
ISO
The walls
of
Manuel
IM
lt5
AndroniiuM
is
is
is
are arrested
and
established by Stephen
tortured to death
Normans
197
Chapel
takeCallipoli
13S9
launched
^1100
1199
12
its territories
for
Pammakaristo*
IIM
and rules
faith
1171
Lascaris,
1329
47
Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII comrs to terms with Pope Cregory X. acknowledging
1300
1 1
Nlcaea
1300
1017
1054
of
of Nicaea
Michael VIII Palaeoktgus takes Constantinople from Lalin control and establishes the
II
1000
C.102S
Comnenus founds
Creek empire
is
II
widow of Romanus
969
years
957
9U
is
IS
founded
captured by Saladin
is
attacked by
at the Battle of
II
end the
religious
Nemania
are defeated
1440
Belgrade
1449
Constanlme XI Dtagaset.
1452
The Turks
1453
Constantinople
is
last of
build the fortress Remeli Hisar. closing the Bosporus lo Christian invaders
is
By/..nl,r,r,mpn,
besieged by
Mehmel
II
and
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ume
An
this vol-
paperback.
to
Downey,
Age
of Justinian.
University
of
Oklahoma
Press, 1960.
Byzantium.
Transl.
by
S.
X.
B.
Hartley.
Modern
1931.
ed.,
G.
P.
Putnam,
An Aesthetic Approach
J.
H., History of
1961.
1963.
to
vols.
Library, 1966.
Hayes, Carleton
Dvornick, Frances, The Slavs in European History. Rutgers University Press, 1962.
Every, George, The Byzantine Patriarchate. Seabury, 1962.
Gibbon, Edward, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: 80 A.D.-395 A.D. 3
Michigan
Press,
Rice,
&
II.
Longmans, 1962.
tThompson, Daniel V., The Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting. Dover, 1957.
Volbach, W. F., and Max Hirmer, Early Christian Art: The Late Roman and Byzantine
Empires from the Third to the Seventh Century. Henry N. Abrams, 1962.
Weitzmann, Kurt, Greek Mythology in Byzantine Art. Princeton University Press, 1951.
Cecil Stewart, ed.,
1954.
History
the
A.
A.,
of
University of Wisconsin Press, 1964.
tVasiliev,
GEOGRAPHY
*White, Lynn,
Jr.,
&
University
Press,
Empire:
324-1453.
at
the
vols.
Clarendon
Press, 1962.
Press,
1964.
GENERAL HISTORY
Norman H., Byzantine Studies and Other Essays. Oxford University Press, 1960.
Norman H., The Byzantine Empire. Oxford University Press, 1958.
Norman H.,and Henry St. L. B. Moss, eds., Byzantium: An Introduction to
East Roman Civilization. Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1962.
fBury, ]. B., History of the Later Roman Empire, 1 vols. Dover, 1958.
Baynes,
Baynes,
tBaynes,
&
Byzantine Empire.
by Harold
Bell.
AND PHILOSOPHY
Cambridge University
Russell, 1964.
Press, 1966.
RELIGION
MILITARY HISTORY
Alfred
A.
Knopf, 1927.
Diehl, Charles, History of the Byzantine Empire. Transl. by George B. Ives. Princeton
University Press, 1945.
tBenz, Ernst, The Eastern Orthodox Church: Its Thought and Life. Transl. by Richard
and Clara Winston. Anchor, 1963.
French, R. M., The Eastern Orthodox Church. Hutchinson's University Library, 1951.
Sherrard, Philip, Constantinople: Iconography of a Sacred City. Oxford University
Press, 1965.
Sherrard, Philip, /If/ios, the Mountain of Silence. Oxford University Press, 1960.
fWare, Timothy, The Orthodox Church. Penguin, 1963.
Zernov, Nicolas, Eastern Christendom: A Study and Development of the
Orthodox Church. G. P. Putnam, 1961.
Eastern
mid 11th
c.
detail
Magnum).
CHAPTER 1: 10 Shroud of St. Germain I'Auxerrois, silk, 9th c. Church of St. Eusebius, Auxerre, France (Eric Schaal). 15 Personifications of Rotne and Constantinople,
ivory diptych, 5th c, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (Photo Emile). 17 Martyrdom
of St. Domninus, manuscript illumination from the Menologion of Basil II, Vatican Ms.
Grec. 1613, page 78, 979-984, Vatican Library, Rome (Dmitri Kessel). 19 Dream of Constantine and Battle of Milvian Bridge, detail of manuscript illumination from the Homilies
of St. Gregory of Nazianzus, Ms. grec. 510, folio 440, 867-886, Bibliotheque Nationale,
186
to
circa.
21 Justinian and his Court, mosaic from the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna,
526-547 (Dmitri Kessel): Manuscript page from introduction to the Code of fus(inian, Pandette c. 16, late 6th c, Biblioteca Medicea-Laurenziana, Florence, Italy. 22, 23
Assumption of the Virgin Mary, manuscript illumination from the Sermons of James of
Kokkinobaphos, Ms. grec. 1208, folio 3 verso, 12lh c, Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris
(Courtesy Thames and Hudson, Ltd., London); Old fagade of St. Mark's, lunette mosaic
from the Duomo di San Marco, Venice, Italy, 1260-1270 (Dmitri Kessel) Bronze horses
from the Duomo di San Marco, Venice, Italy, 4th-3rd c. B.C (Dmitri Kessel). 24, 25
Relics of the Passion in Constantinople's Churches, manuscript illumination from Le
Paris. 20,
Italy,
Ms.
II. tilver gill on ltrr gold bate. 5o5-578. Tetoro di Sn Pirlto. Vjlicjn,
(Dmitri KmscI) 26. 27 Detail Irom the Death of St Ephraim the Syrian, panel
painting by Emmanuel Tzanphoumaris of Crete, loth c
Pinarotrca Valicana. Rome
(Emmett Bright). Coreme. Turkey (Farrell Crehan from Photo Researchers) 28. 20 BapBulgarians,
manuscript
illumination
of
the
from
Bulgarian
tism
copy of the Chronicle
of Constantme Manasses. Vatican Codex Slav 2. folio loJ verso. 1345. Vatican Library
Rome (Courtesy Thames and Hudson Ltd London). Three Holy Children in the Fiery
Furnace, fresco from Faras. Sudan. lOth-Ilth c Courtesy Prof. K Michalo%vsLi. Warsaw.
Director of Polish Excavations at Faras (Dr Ceorg Cerster from Rapho Cuillumette)
Crosof lutlin
Rome
from Sinai Codex Gr. 2123. folio 133 recto. lSth-l6th c Monastery of St Catherine
Sinai. Egypt. Courtesy of the Mount Sinai Expeditions sponsored by the UniverMichigan. Princeton University and ihr Univritily of Alexandria (Fred Andeiegg)
122 Woman with Spindle manuscript illumination from the Buoik of loh, Ms giec 134.
folio 184 verso. 13th c
Bibliolh^ue Nationale. Paris (Eric Schaal) 129-Chrisl crowning
Romanus and Eudoxia. ivory relief, ca 950, Cabinet de MMailles. Biblioth^ue Nationale.
.
Mount
sity ol
Paris.
CHAmi
2:
30 Constantine presenting Constantinople to the Virgin, mosaic detail
from Hagia Sophia. <)$o-<><>4 (Dmitri Kessel) 35 ReUquary casket (7). ivory rehef. th7th c. Cathedral Treasury of Trier. Germany (Foto. Museum of the Bishopric of Trier)
39 Clephane Horn, ivory, lOth-llth c Courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum.
London. 41. 44-53 Drawings by Paul Hogarth.
.
CHArnK
CMAPTTR 3: 54 St. Georgc. steatite relief. 12th c. Treasury of Vatopedi. Mount Alhos.
Greece (Dmitri Kessel) 63-73 Manuscript illuminations from the Chronicle of lohn
Scylitzes. Matritensis graecus. Vitr 2e-2 (63 folio 156. 64. 65 folio 82 verso, folio
82 folio 84. folio 83 66. 67 folio 85 verso, folio 85: folio 86 folio 86 68 folio 87
verso folio 87 folio 80 60 folio 80 verso folio 80 verso folio 102 70. 71 folio 99
verso folio 100: folio 98 verso 72 folio 104 verso folio 105 verso folio 105 verso 73
Biblioteca Nacional. Madrid (Augusto
folio 104 verso: folio 105folio 102.) 14th c
.
Mmnti)
CHArm
4: 74 Emperor John Cantacuzene and the Council of 1351. manuscript illumiiutton from the "Manuscript of Cantacuzene." Ms. grec. 1242. folio 5 verso,
1370-75 Bibliotheque Nationale. Paris (Eric Schaal) 76 Head of Nicephoras Phocas.
manuscript illumination from the Chronicle of |ohn Scylitzes. Matritensis graecus. Vitr.
26-2. foUo 157 verso. 14th c. Biblioteca Nacional. Madrid (Augusto Meneses). 78 Empress Theodora, mosaic detail from the Church of San Vitale. Ravenna. Italy. 526-547
(Dmitri Kessel): Empress Zoe. mosaic detail from Hagia Sophia, 1028-1042 (Dmitri
Kessel): Empress Irene, mosaic detail from Hagia Sophia, ca. 1118-1122 (Dmitri Kessel).
81 Crowning of David, manuscript illumination from the Paris Psalter, Ms grec. 139.
folio 6 verso, early 10th c. Bibliotheque Nationale. Paris 83 Imperial cavalry, detail of
manuscript illumination from the Chronicle of John Scylitzes. Matritensis graecus. Vitr.
26-2. folio 54 verso. 14th c. Biblioteca Nacional. Madrid (Augusto Meneses) 84
Cathedral Treasury of Troyes. France
Mounted hunter, detail from ivory casket. 11th
(Eddy Van der Veen) Drawings by David Klein. 85 St. Demetrios. steatite relief. 12th
c. Courtesy Marquis Hubert de Ganay. Paris (Sabine Weiss from Rapho Guillumette)
Drawings by David Klein 86 Drawings by David Klein. 87 Manuscript illuminations
from the Book of Machines of War of Heron of Byzantium. Vatican Codex Grec. 1605
[folio 8 verso folio 9 verso: folio 20 recto folio 40 recto], mid-llth c. Vatican Library.
Rome. 88. 89 Manuscript illumination from the Book of Machines of War of Heron of
Vatican Library.
Byzantium. Vatican Codex Grec. 1605. folio 36 recto, mid-llth
Rome: Drawing by David Klein based on a model in The Naval Museum, Piraeus, Greece.
illumination
from
the Liber insuConstantinople.
Florentine
manuscript
Map
of
90-91
larum archipelafi of Cristoforo Buondelmonti. Ms. Cotton Vespasian A XIII. folio 36 verso, ca. 1422. Courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum, London: Drawing by Da-
vid Klein
CHATTEi 5: 92 Emperor Nicephoras Botaniates between St. John Chrysostom and the
Archangel Michael, manuscript illumination from the Homilies of St. John Chrysostom.
Ms grec. Coislin 79. folio 2 verso, ca. 1078. Bibliotheque Nationale. Paris. 95 Maitreya
Buddha. Chinese bronze gilt statue. 477. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York,
Kennedy Fund, 1926 99 St Simeon Stylites. manuscript illumination from the Menolo$ion of Basil II, Vatican Ms Grec. 1613, page 2, 979-984, Vatican Library. Rome (Dmitri Kessel) 101, 104-109 Mosaics from the Church of Hosios Loukas, Phocis, Greece, midlllh c. (Erich Lessing from Magnum). 102. 103 Floor plan and elevation by Lowell Hess
after R. W. Schultz and S. H Barnsley, The Monastery of St. Luke of Sliris in Phocis,
London, Macmillan & Co. 110, 111 Pantocrator, mosaic detail from the dome of the
Church of the Virgin, Daphni, Greece, late 11th c. (Erich Lessing from Magnum).
CHAmi
ican
lace
6: 112 Canticle of Moses, manuscript illumination from the Septuagint, VatCodex Grec. 752, folio 449 verso, 11th c, Vatican Library. Rome 115Gold neckfrom the Cyprus Treasure, 6th-7th c. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
(Roger
Wood
Museo
Cristiano Vaticano,
Rome
(Emmett Bright)- Detail of the Pala d'Oro, cloisonne enamel plaque, 12th c, Duomo di San
Marco. Venice. Italy (Emmett Bright). Detail of fresco by Eutychius and Michael, from the
Church of St Clement. Ohrid. Yugoslavia, ca 1205 (Sonja Bullaty and Angelo Lomeo) 151
-Detail of mosaic from the Church of the Virgin, Daphni, Greece, late 11th c (Eric Schaal)
Portable icon, mosaic of miniature tesserae set in wax. from the Church of St. Mary Pammakaristos, Istanbul. 12th c. Collection of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Ara Guler) Detail of fresco in the Pareccleseion of the Church of St Savior in
Chora, Istanbul, ca 1303 (Ara Guler) 152. 153 Barberini Ivory, ivory lelief, early 6th c,
Mus^edu Louvre, Paris (Giraudon, Paris). Harbaville Triptych, ivory relief, late 10th c,
Mus^edu Louvre, Paris (Service Photographique de la Reunion des Musses Nalionaux).
154 David Composing the Psalms, manuscript illumination from the Paris Psalter, Ms.
grec. 139, folio 1 verso, early 10th c, Bibliotheque Nationale. Paris 155 Christ Teaching,
manuscript illumination from the Menologion of Basil II. Vatican Codex Grec 1613. page
1. 979-984, Vatican Library, Rome (Dmitri Kessel) St
Eumenius, manuscript illumination from the Menologion of Basil II, Vatican Codex Grec. 1613, page 47. 979-984. Vatican
Library, Rome (Dmitri Kessel). 156. 157- Apse and Semi-dome, fresco by Eutychius and
Michael, from the Church of St Clement. Ohrid, Yugoslavia, ca 1295 (Sonja Bullaty and
Angelo Lomeo). 158 David Presented to Saul, silver plate from the Cyprus Treasure,
early 7th c. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York. Gift of J Pierponi Morgan.
1917 The Annunciation, silk twill, 7th-8lh c, Vatican Library, Rome (Dmitri Kessel)
159 Outer container for reliquary of the True Cross, enameled gold inlaid with (ewels,
ca. 955-960, Cathedral Treasury of Limburg on the Lahn. Germany (Hirmer-Fotoarchiv
Mijnchen).
CHAmR
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The
editors of this
book
New
Ronald E
Malmstrom. Evangelos Savvopoulos, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, Athens, John
Kondis, General Dirermr of Arrharoloftv Athens: Manolis Chalzidakis, Director of Byzan''
Curator of Byzantine Antiquities. Athens.
tine and Ben <
ih. Byzantine Museum. Athens. Paul MyStella Papadj*
.'orge Cavounides. Director General of the
lofus. Nation.!
PreM Division of tfte Prime Miniticf > Office. Athens. Nicolas Linardatot. Director. Foreign
PreM Division. Athens. Francis R Wallon. E>ireclor. Gennadeion Library. Athens. Harry
Hkmides. Athens College. Athens. Simon Karas. Director of Ethnic Music of the Creek
Radio. Vatican Library. Rome Tullia (.asparrini Leporace. Director. Gian Albino Ravalli
Modoni. Mario (avaretio Biblioteta Marciana. Venice. Giuseppe Tamburniw. Abba/ia di
Praglia. Padua. Ferdinando Rodrique/. Biblioteca Universilaria, Bologna, Irma MeroUe-Tondi,
Director, Biblioteca Medirea-Laurenziana, Florence, Hirmer VerUg. Munich, Paul Gichtel,
History. Rutgers.
The
Slate University.
'
Museum, Vienna, Paul Lemerle, L'Institut d'Hisloire et Civilization Byzantines, Pans, Fran^oise Le Monnier, Conservaleur du D^partement de la Pholographie.Biblioth^qurNationale. Paris. Department of British and Mediaeval Antiquities. Brit-
187
INDEX
*
This symbol
front of a page
in
number
indicates a
MAPS
All
VOLUME
IN THIS
in,
8-9
Trade Routes
32-33
Constantinople
42-43
Empire of Justinian
also Anatolia
57
59
Empire of Basil
61
II
164
Acropolis,
map
Bucellarion,
Buda,
Buddha, '95
Buddhism, 95
61;
maps
Adulis, map 32
Aegaion Pelagos,
8, 57, 61,
61
Aeneas, 33
map
maps
8-9, 32,
43
59
map
Alans,
57
King of Visigoths, 11
Albania, Bulgarian conquest of, 62
Aleppo: Byzantine recapture of, 61, 62,
76; maps 9, 32, 61
Alexander the Great, 11
Alexandria, Egypt, 11, 97; center of
Alaric,
learning, 136;
maps
in,
map 32
Alexius
Comnenus, Emperor,
82, 137,
161, 162,177
Alps,
map
ruler,
163
map
8; trade,
36
Amastrianum, map 43
Anastasius I, Emperor, 55
164;
Moslems
in, 60;
map
Andronicus
61
188
of Valens,
by
165
map
map
ecclesiastical (see
Church
architecture);
Roman
35, 51,
Arianism, 97
Aristocracy, 135. See
Upper
classes
61
137;
Ballet,
map
Roman,
Baltic Sea,
map
maps
8,
61
I,
Basiliskianos, '69
map 32
Bema
100
Blachernae, 34, 52
illuminations; Mosaics
Artillery: Byzantine, '86;
Turkish, 167
Ottoman
117-118
Bulgaria, church architecture, 22,
139-140;
map
61
Bulgar(ian)s, 60; conversion to Christianity, '28, 163; invasions of, map 59;
Empire, 14
Burgundians,
map 57
164
114
32
Basra,
144; Carolingian,
12; classical naturalism, 141, *142, 144,
*148, *152; Constantinople as center of,
9,
61
political
in, 22,
map
map
tion, 81-82;
maps
life,
Armeniakon, map 61
Armor, 78, 82, *84-85
Army, Byzantine, 78-79, 81-82, 83,
*84-87; and iconoclasm, 97; organiza-
of, 166;
43
Byzantine role
maps
in,
Aqueduct
maps
Normans
164
61
9, 42,
in, 61;
Arabia,
map
Africa,
Moslems
9, 32, 59,
43
maps
Ottoman capture
164
metropolitanate, 96;
Bruges,
map 43
map 42
map 32
Bovi, Forum,
Brusa:
map 32
map 33
Calydonian boar, 34, 48
Cappadocia: holy grottoes
Cairo,
Caliana,
maps
9,
in,
'26-27;
art, 12
Carpathian Mtns., map 9
Carpet manufacture, 118
Cartagena, maps 8, 57
Carolingian
Carthage,
maps
8, 57,
59
Catacomb
art,
9,
32
141, '150
map
Chain, map 43
Chalcedon, 31; map 9
Chalcedon, Council of (451), 56, 58, 96, 97
map 61
Chariot races, in Hippodrome, 48, 114-115
Chaldia,
and Buddhism,
compared, 95; compulsory for citizens,
37 94, 99; Constantine's conversion to,
18. 55, 56, 75, 93; dogma, 56, 58, 97-98,
E*st-VSr>I Mhir.m
t>l
le3
lc>4.
41.'
Ul
I45(srf dlioRehgiousart;
Religious lilerjturr) suppression
under lulian the Aposute 55 See *Uo
Church and state. Conversion. Councils.
Church. Eastern Church. Missionary
work. Monasticism. Papacy. Relics,
135.
98. separation
demanded by
early
"ur
and
relics in.
MS. fall of
Moslem siege of
in. 38,
first
(673-677), 60, forums, 34. 35. map 4243, '45, harbor, 33, 36, ^41. map 42-
mapi
9. 57.
map
43,
Rome,
replica of
and
fire
by Crusaders (1204).
Moslem
165-166.
and
traffic.
map
center. 31.
map
42-43;
Turkish siege
map
61
map
42-43
Citizenship requirements. 37, 94, 99
Civil aristocracy. 61 80, 161
Cisterns, 35, 36, 43. 138;
Civil law, 21
Civil service, 80-81, eunuchs
Clement of Alexandria, 16
in,
82
Rome,
maps
Corsica. 58.
8,
57
Cosmetics, 116
Councils, Church, 56, '74, 97, 98; of
women. 115-
116
King of Franks. 11
Coins: image of Christ on, 24. 80; image
Clovis.
of
Cologne,
Colonea,
map 8
map 61
on
Constantine.
Forum
Emperor. 79
Ottoman em
Dardanelles, 31,
Dark Ages,
map
170. interruption
179
Dionysus, god, 179
Diplomacy, 82, 83
Disease, 37, 46, 166
Divorce. 117
Dogma, orthodox, 56. 97-98, f!lio4ue dispute, 162; and iconoclasm, 97-98: and
Monophysilism. 58
Dome, in Byzantine architecture, 40, SO51. ^102-103, lOe. 138. 139. 140,
pendentive vs. squinch device, '139
maps
9, 61;
Minoan
civilization, 11
Crimea, map 9
Criminal law, 21, 117
Croatian trade, 36
Cross-in-square type of church, 140
Crown of Thorns. ^25. 34
Crucifixion. ^104
Crusades. 23. 62. 164; First. 164-165,
Second, 165; Third. 165. Fourth, diversion to Constantinople. 165. 167. 170;
Fifth. 167
Ctesiphon, map 9
Cuhicularii, 77
Currency: late Roman Empire, 14, stability of Byzantine. 117, 118
Cyprus: Byzantine reconquest of, 61,
maps
9,
61
map
Cyrene,
territorial
map
57, 58,
Western European
atli
64
kingdom
of, 166,
map
maps
't>i.
72
164
popular loyalty
16;
to,
98, 167;
ment regulation
de-
116-117, late
of, 47,
Roman
Trade
Church
Ferrara,
map
maps
9.
61
monasticism
in,
in, 27,
civili-
under
Fati-
Monophysitism
map
map
32
reli-
130-131
Fez,
map 32
map 8
Food, 115, 121,^124-125
Florence,
map
42-43. ^90-91
map
^45, 79,
43
57;
Roman Em-
32
map
42
deification of
nople, 35.
Education, 135-136
Egypt: Alexander in, 11, ancient,
um.
Ecumenical patriarch, 96
Edessa, 165:
num
Episcopal synod, 96
Ethiopia, trade with, 32
Eudoxia, Empress, ^129
Dromonds, 36
Elbe River,
of
treatment, II. 1213. under Palaeologus dynasty. 166170. restoration uf Imperium Kuma-
zantine
map 9
River,
2.
140
Don
by Latin Lmpiir
56
11, 12,
98
Clermont, Council of (1095). 164
map 57
Data,
Roman,
Furniture. 36
map 33
Daibul.
maps
Dance, lU,
Dandolo. Enrico 165
Daniel
iV.
DanuK
pire
inr)
of
10<J
Byzantine Em-
mapt
9. 32,
57,61, 164
Danzig, map 32
Daphni, Church of the Virgin. '110-111.
map
map
tombs
of. 34,
table 76. 77
Empire, Byzantine: administration, BO-
<>n
I'
39,
61
'130-13]
9, 32. 59,
'
96,
117; marriages of, 79; palaces of, 38-
SI,
82
(see also
Church
(see
Government), and
Church and
state), citizen
ship requirements. 37. 94, 99, consolidation under Syrian dynasty, 60. decline of. 161-163, emergence of, 15, 5556, fall of. 91. 170.
growth of Turkish
Galala;
Wall
of, ^41,
map
43,
of,
Gallienus, Emperor, 17
Gallipoli,
map
164
Games, 114
Gardens, 114, imperial, 39
Gates, map: of the Blachernae, 43; of
Charisius. 43. Contoscalion. 42, of the
Old Golden,
42: of the
189
Constan43
John
John
map
map
map
56, 59,
the,
St.
121
Hugh, Abbot
Huns, 56, 90
of Cluny, 164
57, 58
Ceronticum Quodam, *134
Ghazis (Turk warriors), 163-164
Gibbon, Edward, 113
II
Comnenus, Emperor,
80, 116,
162, 165
John
John
John
John
64;
7b
170
map
Justin
I,
Justin
II,
Roman
theme sys-
Greece, ancient, 11; preservation of cultural heritage of, 11-12, 19, 22, 135136; as source of Byzantine culture,
94,
Russian Prince, 88
Iliad (Homer), 136
Illuminations. See Manuscript illuminaIgor,
38
India: ancient civilization, 11;
map
95;
Kaffa,
Khorezm, 163
map
Irene,
nus), *78, 80
II,
Emperor, blinding
Isaac of
map
Cru-
Christian service
in,
169;
61.
possessions
in, 22,
maps
61, 164;
Lom-
in, 59;
152
Ivory trade, 31, 152
61
from, *23
History, writing of, 137
Jaffna,
map
33
170
Jerusalem, 18, 59; Crusaders
Janissaries, 167-168,
in,
165,
maps
9,32,57,59,61
Jesus Christ: depictions of, 102, *104107, *109-ni, 129, 141, 143, 144,
*145, *148-149, 151, '153, '155, '157,
human
8, 32, 57,
on coins,
nature
Second Coming
of, 58,
of, 16;
map
Landed aristocracy,
162, 166
Language, 135-136:
official, 37,
80
map
164
Latin Empire of Constantinople, 166
Latin language, 80, 135
Latins, capture of Constantinople by
(1204), 115, 165-166
Law: civil, 21; courts, 117; criminal, 21,
117; family, 21, 116, 117; guild system,
Larissa,
20-21,58, 117
Lazians, location of,
map 57
maps
relics of, in
34;
maps
Nineveh, quoted, 99
Khotan, map 33
Kiev, Byzantine influence on church
chitecture, 40; maps 9, 32
Kolyva, 131
Konya, 164
Kossovo, battle of, 167; maps 9, 164
Isidore of Miletus, 36
map 32
Mary. See Virgin Mary
Mary Magdalen, 34
Maurice, Emperor, death of, table 7b
Maxentius, Co-Emperor, 18, 93
Maximum, Co-Emperor, 18
Mecca, map 32
Medicine, 37, 116
Marseilles,
Mehmet
II,
map
61
Memphis, map 57
Hippodrome,
map
map
I, Emperor, 162
Manuscript illuminations, '22, '92, 100,
'112, 141, 143, 144, 145, '154-155
Manuscript restoration, '134
Manzikert, battle of, 163, 164; maps 9,
164
Marble, use of, 35, 38, 40, 51, 139
Marble Tower, map 43
Marcian, Column of, map 43
Marcus Aurelius, Emperor, 16
Maritsa, map 164
Marmara, Sea of, 18, 31, 33, 35; map
42
Melitene,
Italy:
ishment
of, 121;
of, table
Istanbul, 41
map
map
76
map
Au-
Khazars, 163
61
Isaac
Hellas,
57; foreign
map 32
Kars,
map
rebuilt by Justinian,
Hamburg, map 32
55,
frontispiece, *21
Karpathos, island
Empire under,
gustaeum, 38
Justinian II, Emperor, death of, table 76
Justinian's Code of Law, 20-21, 58, 117;
Buddhism,
152
Irene,
official
tions
Ionian Sea,
and Constan-
tine
43; Tower,
Manuel
map 42
Golden Horn, harbor of Constantinople,
32, 35, 36, 41, map 43, 78; Turkish
58, 96;
map
Palace,
Mangon, *86
and Church,
Ghazni. 163
33
map
43
Mangana:
Iconium, map 61
Iconoclasm, 97-98, 142-143
Iconographic art, 142-144
Icons, 97, *127, 141, 142-143, 171; veneration of, 97-98
Idolatry,94, 97, 143
Magnaura
Malabar,
Iberia,
fleet in
61
of, 62,
maps 8-9,61
Mahmud of
Emperor, 56
Emperor, 25
Justinian I, Emperor, '20, 50, 51, 56-59,
76
Jupiter, 15
Giotto, 144
190
of, table
Constantinople, '24-25,
True Cross
ruler of
Byzantium, 80
Michael
architecture, 22;
map
Milion Arch,
map
43
Minoan
136-137
civilization, 11
Mithraism, 16
Mohammed,
life,
Lycandus, map 61
Lycus River, map 43
Lyons, Council of (1274), 167
map
map
Prophet, 60
Monasteries, 19, 99-100, '171-181; in
Constantinople, 27, 100; on Mount
Athos, 100, 113, 170, '174-176, '178181; in Phocis, '101-109; Roussanou,
Meteora, '174-175; St. Catherine's,
Mount Sinai, 142, '172-173; St. John's,
Patmos Island, '177; St. Savior Pantoc-
Ormuz. map 32
Orontes. battle on the. 62
icono-
Orthodox Christianity.
Eastern Church
Orvphas Nicetas. '71
Monophv-ilism 58
Monmir
map
US.
12, '30,
Prilep.
28 Sit also
12.
map
57. 58
Ottoman Turks emergence and expansion of. 166-167. siege and capture of
Constantinople by. 91. '160. 167-170
Our Lady
Outdoor
Church
ot Pharos.
of.
102
114
life.
map
61
Processions, state and religious. In Constantinople, '35, 37, 44-45, 52, 78-79.
80 115
Procoplus. 137. quoted. 33. 40 56
P'otespatharos, office of. 80
Provinces, administration of
Roman
late
Si
61-62.79. l6l
St
146-147
Pyrenees,
map
13.
Io7.
first
against. 164-105
Con-
map 43
Blachemae. 51:
map A3,
38-39, map
60:
in.
9.
maps
8. 32.
57
Narses. 58. 82
Nativity, depictions of. '107. 143
Ottoman capture
map
Nicopolis.
61
Diomedes, '65
map
9.
monasti-
Patmos
Nishapur. map
Noah adze of, 34
maps
in
map
map
43
architecture. 138
Roman
47. 116-117.
nicir
>ple
OhriJ
47 117
urchofSt
Clen,!,..
Olgj, Grand
..- ...maps9.b\
PnnceM oi Kiev, 61
mu-
Roman
in
map
57: invasions
map 59
art, 22,
Church
architecture
124-127
St.
Church
Empire,
Papacy
map
map 33
map 32
Roman
76
Phocas. Emperor. 56. death of. table 76
Romanus
164
In.
156
man
general, 14
map
of. SI.
43
St, Savior Pantepopte. Church of. map 43
St Savior Panlocrator. monastery. 80.
map
43
St
St
St
Salonika, 18:
of cultural
map
59;
138, 141
Rome, Bishop of 96
Rome, city of Belisarius in. 58, Byzantine
Influence on church architecture 22,
mapt 9, 32, 57, 59, Santa Maria Antiqua,
142, superseded
by Consianlinople,
18,33
Roussanou, monastery of Meteora, '174175
Russia attacks on Constantinople by
(860,941). 34.88. By/antium
Church
of,
map
42
at.
St.
143. 152-153
Pompeii, murals
42
163:
map
76
Plato. 16
Polo. 144
of,
of, table
137
^104
St.
Emperor, death
of,
St Theodosia,
of.
table 76
III.
'SO
St
Philanthropy. Il6
Philippucus. Emperor, blinding of. table
map
43,
Moclus, Cistern
St
116:
map
of,
Si Nicholas, 121
21,58
Romania, Byzantine Influences. 12
Romanus I. Emperor. 82
Romanus II. Emperor. 76. '129. death
Si
57: restoration
Pertinax. Emperor, 13
Roman
map 32
43
59
dominant factor
St Methodius, l63
Persian Gulf,
114;
map
'101-109
Phosphorlon Harbor, map 43
Photius Patriarch, quoted. 34
Pisa, trade. 162
of.
Maximus
Philadelphia,
Deuil, quoted. 36
Church
St Irenaeus, 16
96
34, '35,
Matthew, depiction
St Irene.
St Helena. 17
St,
Odon de
St,
Pest,
St.
Peshawar,
32:
of,
St.
162
162
St
threat to late
North Africa:
by landed
Bezant
Raphenea, map 61
Ravenna. 59. Byzantine Influence on
church architecture, 22, 40: maps 8,
St George
Pergamum.
Italy, 62,
monastery, '171,
Patzinaks, 62
Pera,
57
32
in
9.
St,
First
map
Island:
Religious
'177
maps
Normans
61
map 6l
Parthenon, as Christian church, 62
Nile,
Nomisma.
map
Paristrion,
Nika
9, 32,
166
of.
80
164
St.
Ohrid, Yugo-
in
52-53, 77
Islam
of,
43.
Sinai,
Quaeslot sacri
script illuminations
cism
Mount
slavia.
Manu-
Palace Cistern,
Palaces. 138.
map
Clement, Church
'156-157
St
under Justinian. 58
Painting. 143 See also Frescoes.
Palestine
maps
142. '172-173,
siege oi Constantinople
Naissus: 18:
Anthony, 26-27
Athanasius the Athonite. 100
Bartholomew, depiction of. '105
architecture, 40
Moslems Crusades
42 relics
rriap
0I.34
Si
16
Andrew Ctiurihol
Si
Psellus,
cullut
<.<
maps
164:
83,85
Sardica (Sophia), 18: map*
S..r
.(..8.57
'
S..
9. 37,
61. 164
7S
191
Schools, 136
Syracuse,
map
Septum, maps
8,
map
42
maps
8,
in,
158; farm,
57, 59, 61
77
Tournaments, jousting, *48-49, 114
Towers, map 42-43; Marble, 42; of Ga-
ble 76,
lata, 43;
Mangana,
43; of
Anemas, 43
map
government
43
of, 31,
map
Taron, map 61
Tarsus, map 61
Troy, Constantine's
Silk:
government monopoly,
57,
Sinai,
Mount:
map
map
21,45
Slavic world, influence of
map
Byzantium on,
170
map
57
weakened by power of
Lower
Upper
classes;
map 57;
partly in By-
map
in, 56;
59
map 33
Strategion, Constantinople, 45
Strategos, office of, 80, 81
62
Struma River, map 61
Strymon,
map
of,
61
Sueves, location
Sugar
trade, 31
Norman
Tunis,
capture
116
Theodora, Empress (wife of Justinian),
of,
map
map
57
Vladislav,
Volga,
choice for
map
43;
Thucydides, 136
Tiberius III, Emperor, death, table 76
Tigris, maps 9, 32, 57, 61, 164
Tomb of Christ, stone of, 34
42-43
Upper
II,
37, 45,
116
Valencia,
Greek
map 32
map 43
Van, Lake, maps 9, 164
Vandals, in North Africa, 56; defeat by
Justinian, 58, map 57
Varangian Guard, 78-79
Varna, battle
in,
36, '88
Pope, 164
Wood
Salonika
Thessaly, Bulgarian conquest of, 62;
maps 8-9
Rome,
See also
map
Universities, 136
women,
Wall
14
Army; Weapons
map
Wage
Walls,
Weapons, 78-79,
of, 167,
maps
'156-157
9, 61,
164
Vaspurkan, map 61
Vaulting, in church architecture, 138,
Dome
on
church architecture, *22-23, 40; maps
card, 162; Byzantine influence
zz
PRODUCTION STAFF FOR TIME INCORPORATED
Hallenbeck (Vice President and Director of Production),
Robert , foy, Caroline Ferri and Robert E. Fraser
Text photocomposed under the direction of Albert /. Dunn and Arthur ].
192
32
32
]ohn
map
new
initial
Urban
map
167
61
of, 45,
57,
59
fire,
maps
59
Turks: ascendancy of, 161, 163-164, 166167; Khazars, 163; map 164; Ottoman,
166-170; Seljuk, 62, 163-164; siege and
capture of Constantinople by, 91, '160,
167-170; warfare against, 83, 85
Tyrrhenian Sea, map 8
of,
map 61
Theocracy, 75, 80, 170; King David as
symbol of, *81; Russian, 170
Theoctista (mother of Abbot Theodore),
Thessalonika, 18;
Struma, battle
32;
Theodosius, Forum
of, map 42-43
classes
Soldier-farmers, 62, 82
Smyrna, map 9
women,
True Cross,
Slave trade, 31
85;
map
Themes, administrative
61
Thebes:
8, 57,
34
43
capital, 18
Teluch, map 61
Tesserae (mosaic stones), 146
Tetrarchy, Roman Empire, 14-15
Theater, in Constantinople, 35, 114
Monastery,
maps
relics of,
map
Textiles trade, 31
St. Catherine's
142, 172-173;
Sirmium,
Tripoli (Africa),
8,
map 61
Vienna, maps 8, 32
Village life, '119-133
Vidin,
Sicily, in
59
Serbia, influence of Byzantine architecture, 22
Serbs, in battle of Kossovo, 167
Serres, map 164
Severus (Septimus), Emperor, 35
Sewers, 37, 43
Shadrach, '28-29, '146
32, 57,
reg-
32-33;
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