Byzantine Research Articles

Fine wares from the Late Roman ‘Principia’at Capidava (ii)

The Late Roman principia from Capidava was built at the end of the 3rd - beginning of the 4th century, most likely during the general reconstruction (phase II) of the fort, as a result of the bellum Scythicum. The building was fully excavated in successive campaigns between 2013-2019. This paper is a follow-up to an initial article, published in 2017, dealing with the fine pottery finds discovered during the 2013-2014 campaigns. In what follows, we will focus on the same category of finds, resulting from the systematic excavation during the 2016 campaign. The 66 items in our catalogue belong to six different classes: African Red Slip Ware, Late Roman C / Phocean Ware, Pontic Sigillata Ware, Early Pontic Red Slip Ware, Pontic Red Slip Ware and Late Roman Light Colored Ware. Within each class our objects have been divided into several types and sub-types according to the extensive existing bibliography. The high degree of fragmentation of the vessels is also the result of the overlap of the living in the building with the semi-deep dwellings built in the final so-called Middle Byzantine period (9th – 11th centuries).

The Imperial Eastern Bronze Coinage of CA/AVGVSTVS, SC, OB CIVIS SERVATOS Types Issued under Augustus. Chronology and Political, Economic, Propaganda Contexts / Wschodni cesarski pieniądz brązowy typu CA/AVGVSTVS, SC, OB. CIVIS SERVATOS za panowania Augusta. Chronologia oraz konteksty polityczny, gospodarczy i propagandowy

For over a century, Roman eastern bronze coins of the types CA/AVGVSTVS, SC and OB CIVIS SERVATOS, issued under emperor Augustus, have been the subject of numerous papers and studies which have led to divergent conclusions regarding their chronology, provenance, and function. While the main topic of this paper is their chronology, accurately establishing this entails the need for multi-faceted research encompassing historical data, art, archaeological artefacts, as well as insights into economy and geostrategy. This allows us to see how much that coinage reflects changes in the various aspects of the reality of the time, connected with the instauration of a new political system, namely the principate. Changes in legends, propaganda content and style of performance of imperial busts on the coins compared to the full-bodied portraiture testify not only to the solidification of Augustus’s power, but also reflect current events of that time, propaganda drives, and the role of the army in the economy. They also reveal to some extent how the state administration was organized. The objective of the present paper is to review and analyse the material available and to provide a fresh outlook on the question, corroborating the existing conclusions and hypotheses or proposing new ones, wherever these appear more probable and are more convincingly substantiated.

‘And He Transformed Their Temple into a Church’: The Redefinition of Sacred Spaces in Libya in Late Antiquity

The aim of studying the context in which churches were built in honour of the Theotokos or dedicated to her in North Africa, as well as in the rest of the Empire, during the sixth century, is to gain a more thorough understanding of Justinian I’s political programme, the utility of unifying dogma and the religious conversion of dissident elements, such as pagans, Jews, Samaritans etc. These issues are addressed by analysing the spatial—principally architectural—and rhetorical superposition of Orthodox Christianity on the places of worship of other communities. It is held here that it is possible to demonstrate that this redefinition of space went a long way towards reinforcing the identity of provincial populations, especially in conflictive or border areas, which had to be secured within the territories that the Byzantine Empire had recently recovered so as to guarantee their political loyalty.

Diet and mobility in Late Antique Sicily: Isotopic data from the catacombs of Santa Lucia, Siracusa (Italy)

The catacombs of Santa Lucia were built during the 3rd century CE in Siracusa, Sicily, Italy, as a burial site for members of the local Christian community until the early 8th century CE. This site is an important cemeterial context of the Late Roman and Byzantine periods. The tombs and artifacts found suggest that individuals of varying wealth were buried in the catacombs. Historical accounts also confirm the presence of a significant Christian community from Syria and the Levant in Siracusa during this period. The objective of this research is to investigate the life histories of the Late Antique community interred in the catacombs using stable isotope analysis. This technique aimed to clarify the dietary differences between individuals of different social status and geographical origins, in order to re-evaluate the data from historical documents. To achieve this, we conducted stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope analyses on skeletal samples from 25 individuals recovered from the catacombs of Santa Lucia, using established methods. The results revealed significant dietary diversity among the individuals buried in the catacombs, with evidence of the consumption of both C3 and C4 plants, as well as fish from both freshwater and sea sources.The oxygen isotopes show a particularly broad range in both the small sample set of bones and the larger set of teeth, suggesting a significant degree of mobility for most of the individuals tested. The high variability found in the diet and the evidence of mobility for most of the individuals tested not only between early age and adulthood, but also throughout their lives. It raises new questions and calls for the consideration of the archaeological and historical implications of these novel discoveries.

The Red-lacquered ceramics of the Late Antique-Pre-Byzantine period Discovered in the Gonio-Apsaros area in 2018-2022

The article explores red-lacquered ceramics discovered in Gonio-Apsaros in recent years. The southwestern Georgia has yielded many diverse red-lacquered ceramics from the ancient and late antique periods, less from the early Byzantine era. However, recently more have been discovered, forming an intriguing category within the kitchenware. Being imported goods, they provide insights into the region's interactions with the world.The fragments of bowls (Late Roman C) including mouth, body, base, mouth-wall, fit into three distinct forms (10A, 10C, 3G/F) identified by Hayes. They are defined by orange, fine-grained ware, flared body and a mouth of varying cross-sections, separated by a delicate groove, traces of reddish varnish on the inside. A bowl fragment bears a cross-shaped mark with rings and can be associated with the types 67 and 68 of Hayes (LRC), with thickened, upturned mouths of polygonal or quadrangular cross-sections, light reddish-brown and fine-grained ware with occasional admixtures, somtimes remnants of pinkish-reddish varnish.
 2019Due to the Byzantine Empire's expansion eastward, parts of Lazica became influenced by Byzantine economy, culture, politics. Apsaros fell within the Byzantine borders from the late 5th century. The growing discovery of materials near the Roman castle highlights the newfound significance of Apsaros increasing interest in it.keywords: Late Antiquity-Early-Byzantine period, South-west Georgia, Ceramics, Red-lacquered ceramics

The Case of Mleh (1170–1175): Cilician Armenia between Nūr al-Dīn and Manuel I Komnenos

Abstract The present paper discusses the reign of the Rubenid lord of Armenian Cilicia, Mleh (1170–1175), and examines his relations with the two great powers of the period, the Byzantine Empire and the Zengids under Nūr al-Dīn (1146–1174). Through examination of the contemporary sources of the period, the following conclusions may be drawn: Firstly, Manuel (1143–1180) did not send an expeditionary force against Mleh. On the contrary, Mleh faced and defeated the local Byzantine garrisons. Secondly, the Crusaders waged a campaign against Mleh in 1173, which was partially successful as it forced the Rubenid lord to recognize the suzerainty of the king of Jerusalem, albeit temporarily. Thirdly, a consequence of the Crusader success was the Byzantine re-conquest of the cities of the Cilician Plain. Finally, Mleh’s status as a client of Nur al-Din does not relate to his religious identity. The sources make it clear that he remained a Christian.

3D SCHOLARLY EDITIONS FOR BYZANTINE STUDIES: MULTIMEDIA VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS FOR HISTORY, ART HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

Abstract. The Byzantine Empire has bequeathed to us a rich legacy of Christian churches, many of which possess historical and cultural significance. Unfortunately, the majority of these structures are currently undergoing a process of decay, having not received adequate preservation efforts. Moreover, the absence of collaboration between researchers in the various fields, each with their own focus on the study of Byzantine churches, presents a pressing need for dialogue and a collective response from these researchers. The region of Laconia, located in the south of Greece, is particularly in need of immediate attention, given the abundance of churches located therein. To address these challenges, the authors propose a novel approach involving the documentation of these churches in a digital format through the presentation of 3D models as scholarly editions that incorporate all available data sets in a multimedia format. This paper delineates several requisite specifications for 3D scholarly editions, which hold the key to solving the twin problems faced by Byzantine churches, namely, their protection and the scarcity of interdisciplinary collaboration amongst researchers. With 3D scholarly editions based on multimedia resources and adequate information management, it will be possible to facilitate collaboration and research between various fields of Byzantine studies, and beyond. Such efforts will serve to ensure that cultural heritage passed down from previous generations will be transmitted to future ones.

Acquiescence of UNESCO Cultural Heritage and Acoustic Environments: Assessment of Hanlar District

Several natural and historical areas around the world are listed as UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites. Hanlar District, located in Bursa, is the fourth biggest city in Turkey, its history includes the Ottoman, Roman, and Byzantine Empires, and it is an area with unique environmental features that represent various historical periods. Scholars at institutions worldwide have already recognized that such an environment has unique characteristics, and so local authorities should preserve the soundscape of the district as the sounds reflect the urban identity of the city. This study aims to evaluate the sounds of this unique district and recommends ways to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the site in terms of its sounds. After collecting more than seven hundred pieces of data on sound pressure levels (SPLs) at twenty-one locations, the SPLs were statistically analyzed (an ANOVA was used for different time intervals, and a t-test was used for different days). Noon and weekend measurements varied among the sites, and these variations were statistically significant. Furthermore, the SPLs were above the WHO’s suggested levels. The study findings show the importance of reducing sounds to create better acoustic environments. The local government should include all stakeholders, including residents, employees, and urban designers, in participatory approaches and action plans to preserve the sounds of cultural heritage sites.

In enemy hands: the Byzantine experience of captivity between the seventh and tenth centuries.

The present paper deals with forced migration experienced by subjects of the Byzantine Empire captured by foreign enemies in the context of warfare between the seventh and the tenth centuries. The focus of the first part is on the scenarios faced by individuals and groups when an enemy had taken control of a settlement or a larger territory. The second part discusses aspects of the role social status and gender played in the process of being taken over and then (possibly but not necessarily) held in captivity. Although one can trace similarities in the way captors treated their captives on different occasions, an overgeneralizing approach can prove misleading, distracting us from the dynamics of the consequences that war and abduction had on both the agency of the victor and the fate of the loser in the early Middle Ages.

Saints' mobility and confinement: deconstructing Byzantine stories of (fe)male ascetics and monastics.

This article investigates stories of holiness which have ascetics or monastics as their hero(in)es and which develop based on a careful interlocking of two concepts: wanderings in urban or desert environments and self-confinement in enclosed or secluded spaces. Through a close reading of two saints' Lives (i.e., the Life of Mary of Egypt and the Life of Matrona of Perge) dating to the early and middle Byzantine periods, the present analysis uncovers the tripartite relationship between movement, confinement, and spiritual advancement from a literary-narrative point of view, thus deepening our understanding of asceticism and monasticism in Byzantine contexts.

Zu den Histamena des Romanos III. Argyros im Karpatenbecken

AbstractIn this paper we present and analyse the histamena (gold coins) of Romanos III. Argyros found in the territory of the former Hungarian Kingdom. The majority of these coins are known from literary and archival sources. Only the coins from Pétermonostora (County Bács-Kiskun/H) and Székesfehérvár (County Fejér/H) had got to museums and about the others only descriptions are available. Most coins are scattered finds but we have information about some nomisma of Romanos III. Argyros from the Etyek-Bóthpuszta hoard (County Fejér/H). Here we'll analyse their role outside the Byzantine Empire as compared to the coin circulation in the medieval Hungarian Kingdom.

Internative marriage system, built by the Tran dynasty (1225–1400), its main objectives, forms and collapse

Since the emergence of the Far Eastern empires, the fundamental principle of the transfer of power in the dynasties that ruled here strictly along the male line and strictly downward was regularly attacked, often successfully, by the female family lines of the ruling families, in particular, by mothers, wives, fathers-in-law and sons-in-law of the emperor, which constantly aroused deep concern among the representatives of the main lines. In the XIII-XIV centuries, the Tran dynasty, which ruled Dai Viet (Vietnam), tried to create and put into practice such a system of transferring the throne within the framework of its house, which would exclude even the theoretical possibility of such encroachments. This article is devoted to a description of the specific measures that were taken in connection with this, as well as the events that led to the destruction of this system and ultimately to the fall of the Tran dynasty and the transfer of power in the country to the Ho dynasty, and formally it was through the female line.

The Maroneia cave in Aegean Thrace. Byzantine period transport amphoras and coarse ware

In western Aegean Thrace, on Mt. Ismaros, the Maroneia cave is located. Its southeastern part was in use from the Late Neolithic period onward, until the verge of the Middle and Late Byzantine periods. The cave lies at a short distance from the homonymous, prosperous, coastal, fortified city. Albeit its southern entrance is well-hidden, the plateau in front of it provides the opportunity for wide observation of the surrounding area. Artifacts deposited in the interior attest that the citizens of Maroneia were hosted here occasionally. The present paper presents the coarse ware, attempting to shed light on: a. the commercial and cultural connections of Maroneia and Aegean Thrace in general with Balkan and Mediterranean sites and b. the various uses of the cave through time; transport amphoras and pithoi reflect its use as a storage area for agricultural and dairy commodities, whereas table- and kitchenware reveals its use as a shelter during the tumultuous times of Aegean Thrace. Invasions of several tribes of the north, e.g., the Goths, Huns, Avars, Normans, Catalans, etc.; the rivalry between the Latin kings; the civil wars of the late Byzantine emperors; and seaward piracy on the coastal region of the Thracian Sea led the Maroneitans to abandon their city occasionally and seek refuge in the nearby cave.

John of Patmos and the Appeal of an Exotic Apocalypse

Abstract This article situates John of Patmos, the author of the New Testament Apocalypse of John, as an exotic ritual expert within the religious landscape of the Roman East. Through comparison with local ritual specialists of the Egyptian gods Isis and Sarapis, I argue that John similarly deploys his own culturally constructed and imperially mediated foreignness to demonstrate the exotic appeal of his Judean God among the assemblies in the cities of western Asia Minor. I consider the role of ritual experts at the Isis sanctuary in Priene and the competing Sarapeia on Delos to contextualize Revelation’s presentation of John as the only “true” expert among several “false” competitors and an authentic representative of his exotic Judean God.

A Jewish Aramaic Circus Curse Tablet from Antioch

Abstract In this contribution we publish a lead circus curse tablet written in Jewish Palestinian Aramaic (Princeton Art Museum excavation no. 3608-I57). The tablet was found in 1935 during excavations near the first turning-post at the hippodrome of Antioch on the Orontes (modern-day Antakya, Turkey). The use of Greek and Latin defixiones agonisticae (agonistic binding spells) in chariot races was a wide-spread phenomenon during the Roman Byzantine Period. Curse tablets were inscribed with aggressive incantations that aimed at the defeat of rivals in the chariot races. The tablet under discussion is a unique piece: It is the only known lead circus curse tablet that was written in a Jewish language and script. The tablet is datable to the fifth or sixth century CE.

Baptismal Aesthetics In-Between: Reflections on the Interplay of Text, Rite, and Image in the Sanctuaries of Ravenna

Baptism is the sacramental celebration of Christian initiation. Paul’s letter to the Romans, which is central to the understanding of baptism, characterizes this sacramental event as a dying with Christ and the beginning of a new existence. This new mode of existence gains an aesthetic-performative form in the liturgical rites. The design of the liturgical spaces can then be understood as “petrified rites”. The imperial church basilicas and baptisteries of the Byzantine period in Ravenna bear particular witness to such petrified manifestations of liturgy. What took place in the liturgical rites found an aesthetic counterpart in the interior design and in the rich mosaic art of the ancient buildings. The Ravennese color-intensive wall and ceiling motifs substantiate in a sensuous way the eschatological aesthetic, which is opened to believers through baptism. Biblical texts, architecture, rite, and pictorial program thus form an aesthetic ensemble whose elements mutually illuminate each other and only gain their full depth of meaning in the context of this performative dynamic. This contribution analyzes the interplay of these different registers, based on some selected examples of Ravenna’s sacred buildings, and explores how the baptismal event is conveyed in them as an aesthetic access to the world.

Similarities and Comparisons Between Stefan Zweig’s ‘Last Mass in St. Sophia’s Cathedral’ and Ismail Kadare’s ‘Saint Sophia’s Church’

Zweig’s contribution in Albanian literature comes from the effort of well-known Albanian intellectuals and translators, which in turn has inspired and influenced prominent figures in Albanian literature and culture. This paper focuses on the inspirations, similarities and differences between ‘Last Mass in the Cathedral of St. Sophia’ by the German author Stefan Zweig, who is one of the authors most frequently translated into Albanian, and ‘The Church of St. Sofia’ by the famous Albanian author, Ismail Kadare. The paper provides solid arguments demonstrating the interesting parallels between the theme, plot and motives in the two stories that depict the same historical event, the conquest of Constantinople and the invasion of Ottoman soldiers into the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Particularly, they emphasise the Church of Saint Sophia, the Sultan’s amazement at its beauty, the conversion of the Church into a mosque and the covering of the Christian elements, the faces of the saints and especially ‘those of Christ and Saint Mary’. Furthermore, icons and elements of historical and religious Christian significance, the fall of the Cross and the altering of the direction of prayers according to religious affiliation are also depicted. Thus, it may be said that great writers, such as Zweig and Kadare, do not have any regularity in where and when they appear. Hence, the connections and literary similarities, whether accidental or a sign of inspiration and influence, can be found in their works, as in many other authors of world literature.

Production and exchange of goods in Early Byzantine Hierapolis of Phrygia (Turkey): Organic residue analyses on local/regional ovoid amphorae

The paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary investigation aimed at recognizing the contents of the ovoid amphorae produced between the 5th and the 7th century CE in the territory of Hierapolis of Phrygia (Turkey). The specific content of this amphora class has never been investigated although the large amounts of local or regional amphorae recovered in several areas of the city are good indicators of the relationship between Hierapolis and its territory regarding the exchange of locally/regionally produced goods during the Early Byzantine period. Furthermore, the study of pottery assemblages shows a relatively insignificant amount of imported amphorae in the general framework of exchange of the regional cities of the Lykos Valley, such as Hierapolis. Organic residues analysis were carried out by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) on twenty-one amphorae samples from the residential contexts excavated in three different areas of the city. The morphology of the selected vessels is well representative of the local/regional amphora type attested in other Early Byzantine contexts of the city. The results obtained from the analyzed samples indicate that most of the amphorae were coated with pitch from Pinaceae trees and that contained grape derivatives, while some of them contained plant oils. These results, combined with morphological and typological data, together with fabric analyses, provide interesting insights into the production and exchange of goods in Hierapolis as well as into the reconstruction of the local economies of inland regions of Anatolia in the Early Byzantine period.

Water as a Strategic Resource in the Western Samaria Region – The Unique Case of Deir Sam’an: The Water System that Has Been Operating for 1,500 Years

ABSTRACT Maintaining a proper water supply is a subject of constant concern in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, including the Mediterranean Basin and, more specifically, Western Samaria. Solutions such as cisterns, reservoirs, water tunnels, and springs were developed and perfected throughout history to enable a regular supply of water to the local population. The case of Deir Sam’an is particularly interesting, as it seems the site's water storage capability is much larger than needed during its activity in the Roman-Byzantine period. At the site, located in Western Samaria, several Roman-Byzantine water systems were found including reservoirs and large cisterns. Its main water system, which is still operating, enables a reliable estimate of the available water amount to the site residents in antiquity. In the winter of 2020-2021, the daily precipitation volume and the annual rise in pool levels were measured and compared with the water amount at the end of the summer. The results validated that the water storage capability far exceeds the estimated demand of Deir Sam’an's population. This paper suggests that a large amount of water was utilized by the Byzantine Empire as a strategic management tool of settlement in the area to attract its preferred population to the Western Samaria region.

The Influence of Place Attachment on Heritage Discourse in Contemporary Places: A Case Study of Jordanian Byzantine Mosaics

This study looks at the influence of place attachment on heritage discourse in contemporary places, specifically, Byzantine mosaics in Jordan, where the Byzantine Empire left behind a rich mosaic heritage. Today, these mosaics are replicated in contemporary architectural environments. The purpose of this article is to explore the heritage discourse surrounding Byzantine mosaics in Jordanian contemporary places with a particular focus on the replication and interpretation of the mosaics in contemporary places. To do that, the relationship between the attachments to the Byzantine mosaic places, the community’s level of awareness, and the replicated heritage discourse was examined. The research was conducted using several different methods, where structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the relationship between these factors. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the measurement models of the latent components and examine their construct validity and reliability. In addition, the study was conducted in Madaba Archaeological Park in the Jordanian city of Madaba, known as the “city of mosaics”, which is rich in tourism and culture, as a subject of study. The results show that the phenomena of heritage replications in contemporary places rely on the expanding interest in history, which is manifested through realizing the historical value and unique features of heritage. This attachment, knowledge, and understanding of heritage sites based on socio-cultural norms help shape the discourse of heritage replication in the contemporary built environment. These findings provide an understanding of the reasons behind the replication behavior of heritage designs in contemporary places, which can be supported in future research and used to create an appropriate contemporary sense of place. In addition to the possibility of using it as a strategy for the sustainability of heritage designs in local culture and contemporary places, not only in Jordan but also in other heritage environments, finally, some useful suggestions emerge on which future research can be based.