Lecture 11: Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul, Venice Flashcards
Spolia
Latin: spolium
are stones taken from an existing structure and repurposed for new construction/included for decorative purposes
i.e Medusa heads from the Basilica cistern in Istanbul
Bosphorus Region
Natural bridge between Europe and Asia.
Pliny Elder “Natural History” : Lygos settlement populated by Thracians in the 13th century BCE
- Only passage connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean which allowed powers in the place to regulate and tax extensive trade routes that passed through the strait.
–> Even now, 3% of world’s daily oil consumption passes through Bosphorus
Montreux Convention 1936
Negotiated to allow Turkey the authority to regulate the passage of naval warships and impose restrictions during wartime
Istanbul etymology
Istanbul from Greek [eis tên polin -dans la ville]
The geographical setting resulted in a constant flow of trade and cultural exchanges, city absorbed influences from Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman
Byzantium
657 BCE city founded by Greek colonists from Megara. Close to Chalcedon settlers
a. Herodotus. Megabyzus a Achaemenid Persian general mocking Megarian inhabitants of Chalcedon as blind bc they chose the worse of 2 cities.
at Black Sea’s only entrance – Byzantium conquered Chalcedon across Bosphorus
Attlaus III of Pergamon, having no heir, left his kingdom to Roman Republic. Rome acquired Chalcedon in 74 BCE.
- The roots of Greek traditions and language, the city being close to Hellenistic states blended with Roman influence and military strength resulting in Greek-Roman syncretism in Byzantium.
Whats an example of spolia?
The Tetrarch statue (300CE)
- St Mark Basilica in Venice
- Roman empire was ruled by a tetrarchy consisting of 2 Augusti / 2 Caesars — DIVIDED into western and eastern territories
- armed and in military garb = collective power
Greek tradition of rulers portraits
Kouroi/Ptolemaic art
a. Military Virtue: symbolizing power, honour, authority
b. Embracing Figures: tightly grouped and embracing each
c. Greek iconography: idealized characters and serene depictions
Constantinople
Byzantium is located on an elevation and had a well-protected harbour on the Golden Horn.
The sea bordered it on three sides, to the north (the Golden Horn), to the east (Bosphorus) and to the south (Sea of Marmara), the only fortification required to enclose the city was a wall in the west.
-Constantinople was designed as a new centre for the Christian monotheist faith. It would eventually become the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople which would rival the Pope in Rome.
Constantine’s dream
Lactantius (religious advisor): Constantine commanded in a dream to delineate the heavenly sign on the the shields of his soldiers
Constantine (reigned 306-337CE)
named Great by the Church. First Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Promulgated the edict of tolerance.( edict of Milan in 313 CE)
324CE expressed strategic interest
330CE settled in Constantinople
–> Rome is the model, hippodrome.
–> The acropolis of Byzantium: temple of APhrodite, sanctuary of Apollo sacrifices are offered to God, Constantine stopped financing them
Edict of Milan
proclamation that established religious tolerance for Christianity within Roman Empire
First Council of Nicaea 324 CE
Organized by Constantine to prevent dissesion, addressing entire body of believers
Emperor Theodosius I
Last ruler of the unified Roman Empire. Abolishes paganism in 392 CE with Edict of Thessalonica –> CHRISTIANIZATION of the empire
Artefacts
- Constantine as Jupiter 311-315AD. holding a globe and a scepter– considered second founder of Rome
- The Serpent Column 479 BC: commemorate Greek victory over the Persian empire at Battle of Plataea which marked the end of Persian invasions of Greece
- commissioned by 31 Greek city states dedicated to Apollo
- 4th centuryCE: Constantine ordered it to be relocated to associate his Christian capital with glories of Greek culture
- Use of pagan sculptures as objects of embellishment
- diminished religious context
Roman-Christian Syncretism
- Combination of the Roman sun god Sol Invictus and Christian god
- symbolizing rulership of both earthly and divine realms