Madrid Skylitzes

The Madrid Skylitzes is a twelfth century illuminated manuscript version of the Synopsis of Histories (Greek: Σύνοψις Ἱστοριῶν, Byzantine Greek: [ˈsy̜.nop.sis is.to.riˈon]), by John Skylitzes, which covers the reigns of the Byzantine emperors from the death of Nicephorus I in 811 to the deposition of Michael VI in 1057.^[1] The manuscript was produced at the Norman court of Palermo in Sicily (although there is some debate on whether the main body was made in Palermo or Constantinople)^[2]^[3] and is now housed in the Biblioteca Nacional de España in Madrid. It remains the only preserved Greek-language illustrated chronicle from the Byzantine period.^[4] The chronicle includes 574 miniatures detailing depictions of everyday life in the Byzantine Empire such as boats, literary practices, sieges, and ceremonies,^[1] in "both purely Byzantine and Western styles while also reflecting Islamic elements".^[5]

Images

Illustrations from Madrid Skylitzes

a. Leo VI with a Bulgarian delegation
b. The Battle of Boulgarophygon
Thomas the Slav seeks refuge with the Arabs
a. Thomas the Slav negotiates with the Saracens
b. Thomas's troops defeat the Imperial army
a. The assassination of Bardas at the feet of Michael III (865-866)
b. Return of the army and coronation of Basil I as co-regent
Depiction of Greek fire in the Madrid Skylitzes
Depiction of the baptism of Boris I of Bulgaria
Meeting between Emperor John Tzimiskes and Sviatoslav I of Kiev
Serbs attack the Byzantines in the mountain passes at the Battle of Bar

References

^ ^a ^b Sussex Centre for Byzantine Cultural History, University of Sussex. "The Madrid Skylitzes Project". www.sussex.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
^ Oikonomides, Nicolas; Zachariadou, Elizabeth (2023). "The Costume of the Eparch and the Madrid Skylitzes". Society, Culture and Politics in Byzantium. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-93933-0.
^ Macrides, Ruth (2016). "Engaging the Byzantine past: strategies of visualizing history in Sicily and Bulgaria". History as Literature in Byzantium. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-93064-2.
^ Tsamakda, Vasiliki (2000). "The Miniatures of the Madrid Skylitzes". academia. p. 127. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
^ Evans, Helen C. & Wixom, William D. (1997). The Glory of Byzantium: Art and Culture of the Middle Byzantine Era, A.D. 843–1261, p. 438. Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 9780810965072. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

Bibliography

Color facsimile edition by Militos (Μίλητος) Publishers, ISBN 960-8460-16-6.
Tsamakda, Vasiliki (2002). The Illustrated Chronicle of Ioannes Skylitzes, Leiden.
Bjørnholt, Bente and J. Burke, eds. (2005). "The Cultures and Contexts of the Madrid Skylitzes". International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds

External links

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[:0-1] Sussex Centre for Byzantine Cultural History, University of Sussex. "The Madrid Skylitzes Project". www.sussex.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2023.

[2] Oikonomides, Nicolas; Zachariadou, Elizabeth (2023). "The Costume of the Eparch and the Madrid Skylitzes". Society, Culture and Politics in Byzantium. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-93933-0.

[3] Macrides, Ruth (2016). "Engaging the Byzantine past: strategies of visualizing history in Sicily and Bulgaria". History as Literature in Byzantium. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-93064-2.

[4] Tsamakda, Vasiliki (2000). "The Miniatures of the Madrid Skylitzes". academia. p. 127. Retrieved 31 March 2023.

[5] Evans, Helen C. & Wixom, William D. (1997). The Glory of Byzantium: Art and Culture of the Middle Byzantine Era, A.D. 843–1261, p. 438. Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 9780810965072. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

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