A solidus from the time of Constantine the Great
The billon (roughly 25% percent silver) coin was the first appearance of VLPP type. Circa 313 A.D., Trier.
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New Translation: Stories of Holy Men of Mount Athos
Often simply called the Holy Mountain, Mount Athos was the most famous center of Byzantine monasticism and remains the spiritual heart of the Orthodox Church today. This volume presents the Lives of Euthymios the Younger, Athanasios of Athos, Maximos the Hutburner, Niphon of Athos, and Philotheos. These five holy men lived on Mount Athos at different times from its early years as a monastic locale in the ninth century to the last decades of the Byzantine period in the early fifteenth century. All five were celebrated for asceticism, clairvoyance, and, in most cases, the ability to perform miracles; Euthymios and Athanasios were also famed as founders of monasteries. Holy Men of Mount Athos illuminates both the history and the varieties of monastic practice on Athos, individually by hermits as well as communally in large monasteries. The Lives also demonstrate the diversity of hagiographic composition and provide important glimpses of Byzantine social and political history.All t...
Rare 1st-century mosaic unearthed in southeastern Turkey
New Syriac inscriptions have been discovered Archaeologists have discovered five base mosaics from Abgar V (BC 4 – AD 7), the fifth king of the kingdom of Osroene (132 BC to AD 244), depicting fine engravings and Syriac inscriptions, as part of a project titled "The Castle Skirts". The mosaics will be displayed in museums after their restoration is completed Read More
5 Great Byzantine Army Leaders
Justinian I (482-565) One of the most spectacular features of Justinian's reign was the recovery of large stretches of land around the Western Mediterranean basin that had slipped out of Imperial control in the 5th century. As a Christian Roman emperor, Justinian considered it his divine duty to restore the Roman Empire to its ancient boundaries. Although he never personally took part in military campaigns, he boasted of his successes in the prefaces to his laws and had them commemorated in art. The re-conquests were in large part carried out by his general Belisarius. Bardas Phokas (died 989) In 978 Bardas was delivered from his prison cell by the eunuch Basil Lekapenos, Basil II's uncle and de facto regent. He was dispatched in disguise to his native Cappadocia to stir up the local aristocracy against Skleros, who had revolted against imperial authorities and advanced to the Hellespont. Despite several initial setbacks, and with the assistance of a Georgian ar...
5 Beautifully Crafted Imperial Byzantine Coins
Hyperpyron of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (1118-1180) Hyperpyron of Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118) John III Doukas (1221-1254) Scyphate Electrum Hyperpyron, Andronicus II & Michael IX, (1295-1320) Constantine VIII (960 – 11 November 1028)
Masterpieces of Byzantine and Early Christian Art from Syria
An article from the Greek newspaper Kathimerini: The Syrian Mosaic Pavement Documentation project, which was signed in 2005, foresaw the full documentation of the country’s floor mosaics and annual education programs for Syrian postgraduate students to help them keep abreast of technological developments. Click here to read more. And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter.
Greek Manuscripts Project from the British Library
The British Library platform for the study of Greek Manuscripts has been launched. Explore some of the highlights of the British Library's collection items, read articles by leading experts on Greek manuscripts, discover themes running through the collections, and watch videos on key topics. Click here to visit the project. And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter.