Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George, sixth or early seventh century, encaustic on wood,...
Byzantine Empire
Centered on Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire carried Roman government into the medieval world while developing a distinct Christian civilization. Its history reveals an enduring imperial society transformed by political struggle and religious controversy amid constant contact with neighboring powers.
Hagia Sophia / Photo by Arild Vågen, Wikimedia Commons It wasn’t Europe that gave us our idea of...
Painting by Laurits Tuxen showing a Christian Bishop displacing an image of the pagan Slavic deities during...
Portrait of Alexios III Komnenos in The Romance of Alexander the Great, 1300s, made in Trebizond, Turkey. Tempera, gold,...
Byzantium in a bottle (or two) Sniffing out the scents of medieval Constantinople. By Saskia Wilson-Brown / 07.03.2014...
A mass burial of battle victims from the Xiongnu period in Mongolia. The Xiongnu warriors are linked...
Engagement Ring with a Greek Inscription, about A.D. 1175–1300. Gold and enamel, 1 3/16 in. diam. Image...
Pair of Wristbands with Birds and Palmettes, Greek, made in Constantinople, 800s–900s. Gold with granulated decoration and...
Gold Chain and Amulet (detail of amulet), A.D. 600s, Byzantine, made in Lesbos, Greece. Gold. Image courtesy...
Plaque with the Life of Achilles (one of three), about A.D. 300–350, made in Constantinople or Thessaloniki;...
San Vitale, begun c. 526-527, consecrated 547, Ravenna (Italy) By Dr. Allen Farber / 08.08.2015 Professor of...
The Justinian Mosaic / Creative Commons Edited by Matthew A. McIntosh / 03.21.2018 Historian Brewminate Editor-in-Chief 1...
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (then Constantinople) / Photo by Arild Vågen, Wikimedia Commons Edited by Matthew A. McIntosh...
Keystone in the Shape of a Foliate Face, about 1225–36, made in Stymphalia, Greece. Stone, probably sandstone,...
Apa Abraham, c. 590-600, watercolor on panel, Egyptian (Bode Museum, Berlin) By Dr. Davor Džalto / 08.08.2015...
The Byzantine Empire near its peak under the Emperor Justinian, c. 550 C.E. By Dr. Ellen A....
The six-line inscription in Ancient Greek found on the fragment of a 6th century AD Byzantine amphora...
Emperor Constantine VII dining with Tsar Symeon of Bulgaria, 13th century / History of John Skylitzes (Skyllitzes Matritensis (Biblioteca Nacional de España) By Dr. Paul...
The fall of man and God’s covenant with Noah, from the Vienna Genesis, folio 3 recto, early...