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The Strong Organization of the Church
The church was much better organized than the nobles, and this gave it a great advantage in power. While the nobles often acted separately...
Power Without Order
Outside the influence of the church, there was often no clear system of law or organized authority. Instead, society was ruled by brute force...
Central Iconographic Structure of the Composition
These three main compositions form the central iconographic focus of the icon. Their strong relationship is clearly emphasized by the red color of their...
Description of the Icon and Its Historical Context
The text discusses an icon dated to the year 1685, which shows Saint Christopher Kynokephalos, also known as the dog-headed Saint Christopher. According to...
Introduction to the Feast and Its Meaning
The text above discusses the feast of All Saints and its iconography in Christian art. The Feast of All Saints celebrates all the holy...
Cantacuzene’s Clear Distinction Between the Two Harbours
Emperor John VI Cantacuzene makes a clear distinction between the Kontoscalion and the Neorion at the Heptascalon in the Fourth Book of his historical...
Was the Neorion at the Heptascalon the Same as the Kontoscalion?
The idea that the Neorion at the Heptascalon was the same harbour as the Kontoscalion raises serious difficulties. In fact, the objections to this...
The Question of the Neorion at the Heptascalon
When we turn our attention to the Neorion at the Heptascalon, it becomes clear that this harbour cannot be identified with several well-known ports...
The Identity of Three Ancient Harbours
Historians have often wondered whether the three names—Tortus Novus, the Harbour of Sophia, and the Harbour of Julian—referred to the same place. Careful examination...
The Bucoleon in the Final Days of Byzantium
The Palace of Bucoleon is mentioned for the last time in Byzantine history during the final fall of Constantinople. According to the historian Phrantzes,...
