The focus of the book is a particular region of the Byzantine Empire, Cappadocia, within Anatolia, in the centre of what is now Turkey. Its history as a part of this confederation of territories coincides with the medieval period in Europe. This monograph deals with various aspects of the province; it begins with its environment and climate, goes to some of its institutions and buildings, and ends with the paintings which the artists employed to decorate the latter, as well as with a particular type of inscriptions (those along the frontiers). It also considers education in Cappadocia during the Byzantines. The study is a scholarly/professional work that draws on the author's current research as well as on the material which the author developed in the last four years while teaching for the University of Oxford.
Components of the Book:
- Introduction
- 1. The Content of the Chapters
- 2. Initial Remarks about the History of Cappadocia
- Chapter 1. The Byzantine Period of Cappadocia
- 1.1. The Administrative Situation
- 1.2. The Political-Cultural Situation
- Chapter 2. The Meteorological Aspects, the Environment, and the Attitude of the Cappadocians during the Byzantine Rule and after towards the Use of Water and Other Natural Resources
- 2.1. The Meteorological Aspects and the Environment of Byzantine and Medieval Cappadocia
- 2.2. The Attitude of the Byzantines and the Cappadocians towards the Use of Water and Other Natural Resources
- Chapter 3. Churches and Schools in Byzantine Cappadocia
- 3.1. Churches
- 3.2. Schools in Byzantine Cappadocia. Their Appearance and Physical Setting
- 3.3. The Conclusion of the Chapter
- Chapter 4. Aspects of Iconography in Byzantine Cappadocia
- 4.1. The Iconographic Motif of Crucifixion with Christ Clothed
- 4.2. The Iconographic Motif of “The Trial by the Water of Reproach”
- 4.3. The Visual Theme “the Flight to Egypt” That Includes JAMES, Jesus’s Half-Brother
- 4.4. The Iconographical Motif of Christ’s First Bath
- Chapter 5. Inscriptions on the Borders of Byzantine and Medieval Cappadocia
- 5.1. Introductory Remarks
- 5.2. The History of Epigraphy in Cappadocia
- 5.3. The Sites on the Cappadocian Frontiers That Contain Inscriptions
- 5.4. The Content of the Byzantine Inscriptions Found on the Territory of Former Byzantine/Medieval Cappadocia
- Chapter 6. Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Readership:
Students, academics, teachers and other people attending or interested in Byzantine Empire and Cappadocia.
Elena Ene Drăghici-Vasilescu
She is Professor of Byzantine and Medieval Studies, as well as of the History of Ideas. She teaches and researches in the fields of Byzantine culture (Philosophy, iconography) for the University of Oxford and also independently. She is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences.