Byzantine Philly

What is Byzantium?

The medieval empire of Byzantium existed for more than a thousand years. It should be understood as a continuation of the Roman Empire, considering its legal and administrative systems retained numerous ancient Roman features; simultaneously, it underwent significant transformations, evolving into a Christian and primarily Greek-speaking state centered in the eastern Mediterranean, Levant, North Africa, and the Balkans. The Byzantines themselves called their state the Roman Empire rather than the Byzantine Empire (a modern term taken from the city “Byzantion,” later renamed Constantinople). The use of the term “Byzantine” in order to describe the Eastern Roman Empire was not prominent until the 16th century.

The population of Byzantium was multicultural, including Greeks, Armenians, Africans, and Slavs. Greek was the official language from the 7th century onward, although many other ethnic groups retained their own languages. While the official state religion was Orthodox Christianity, populations such as the Armenians and Copts practiced different forms of Christianity, and Jews and Muslims comprised additional religious practices.

The ‘beginning’ date of the Byzantine Empire remains under discussion, as there was no formal proclamation of state or abolishment of an earlier regime. Many scholars prefer the date of 324 CE — when Constantinople was founded by Constantine the Great — or 395 CE when the Roman Empire was divided between the sons of Theodosius I. Some scholars do not even view the Byzantine Empire as established until as late as the sack of Rome in 410 CE or even later. The ‘end’ date of the Byzantine Empire is much easier to set; Byzantium ceased to exist in 1453 CE when Constantinople was captured by the Ottomans; yet, Byzantine art and visual culture persists even after the end of the Empire.

What is Byzantine Philly?

Byzantine Philly is an original assemblage of Byzantine-related artworks ranging from ca. 300 CE to ca. 1420 CE, gathered from collections in and near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Byzantine Philly is meant to provide the viewer with a basic synopsis of the several mediums, types, and styles of art seen in the Byzantine world. Objects featured in the exhibition include manuscripts, archaeological finds, household items, and religious items. These items have been provided by a variety of institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania’s Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and Manuscripts, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, and the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Rare Books Department.

Thanks

For their help and generosity in undertaking this project, we are grateful to Dr. Nick Herman, Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies, University of Pennsylvania Libraries; Katy Blanchard and Dr. C. Brian Rose, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology; Dr. Jane Evans, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University; Dr. Betsy Williams, Dumbarton Oaks Library and Research Collection; Aileen McNamara, Rare Books Department, Free Library of Philadelphia; and Jordan Hample and Matt Shoemaker, Charles Library, Temple University.