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Definition
Title: Justinian as world conqueror (Barberini ivory)
Artist: unknown
Date: 6th century
Medium: ivory diptych
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: Shows how the emperors of Byzantium ("New Rome") considered themselves the direct successors of Old Roman emperors. Does this by showing Justinian riding (and dwarfing) a horse, like the classical equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. Also includes pagan personifications of Victory and Earth, which refers back to Old Rome despite the state religion being Christianity (as alluded to in Christ's blessing Justinian) |
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Title: Hagia Sophia
Artist: Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus
Date: 6th century
Medium: architecture
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: The Hagia Sophia was first building to use pendentive construction on a monumental scale. This construction method places the building's dome over the triangular corner sections of a modified square base (called pendentives), so that the dome's weight is carried by the pendentives rather than the building's walls. This allows the walls to be filled with windows, giving the building's interior a light, ethereal feeling which complemented the divine space.
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Title: San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy
Artist: commissioned by Bishop Maximianus
Date: 6th century
Medium: architecture
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: The church is centrally-planned (rather than a basilica) like Justinian's churches in Constantinople andfeatures two concentric ocatgons, making it unlike any other church in Italy. |
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Title: Justinian, Bishop Maximianus, and attendants
Artist: unknown
Date: 6th century
Medium: mosaic
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: The figures are not situated within a discernable space, but hovering and flat against the solid gold background, Suggesting that they are always present at the services at San Vitale. Also, the figures' ranks are suggested based on who is standing slightly in front of the other and based on the positioning of the figures' feet. Although the positioning of Justinian and Maximianus is relation to one another is technically incorrect (Maximianus appears to stand in front of Justinian, but Justinian's bowl and arm are in front of the Bishop's), this placement suggests that there is an equality between the church and the state.
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Term
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Definition
Title: choir and apse of San Vitale with mosaic of Christ between two angels, Saint Vitalis, and Bishop Ecclesius
Artist: unknown
Date: 6th century
Medium: mosaic
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: |
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Definition
Title: Theodora and attendants
Artist: unknown
Date: 6th century
Medium: mosaic
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: Empress Theodora's power at the Byzantine court is respresented in the mosaic by her purple robes, extravagent headdress and halo, and jewelled chalice. However, her being positioned outside the sanctuary (rather than against a blank background like Justinian, which suggests he is in the sanctuary) attests that her rank is not equal to the Emperor's.
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Title: Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George
Artist: unknown
Date: 6th century
Medium: encaustic on wood
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: Byzantine icons emerged from the Roman tradition of painting on wood, but the style is obviously a move away from the classical, as is the Christian subject matter. |
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Definition
Title: Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between enthroned
Artist: unknown
Date: dedicated 9th century
Medium: mosaic
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: Mosaic dedicated in Hagia Sophia after the repeal of iconoclasm to replace a mosaic destroyed by the iconoclasts.
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Definition
Title: Daphne Crucifixion
Artist: unknown
Date: late 11th century
Medium: mosaic
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: The style combines the simple, statuesque qualities of the classical with the flat, linear Byzantine style. |
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Title: Christ as Pantokrator
Artist: unknown
Date: late 11th century
Medium: mosaic
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: This mosaic, which is on the dome ceiling of the Church of Dormition, represents Christ as the "Ruler of All" and final judge over the worshippers.
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Definition
Title: Lamentation over the dead Christ
Artist: unknown
Date: 12th century
Medium: wall painting
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: Setting this scene against a natural, blue background and hilly landscape more effectively conveys the emotionally-charged theme because it brings the viewer directly to the scene of Christ's death (whereas a typically-Byzantine golden background would remove the viewer from the scene).
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Definition
Title: Virgin (Theotokos) and Child/Vladimir Virgin
Artist: unknown
Date: 12th century
Medium: tempura on wood/icon
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: Features the conventional iconic image of the Virgin Mary and the Christ child, derived from pre-iconoclasm icons. This icon, however, shows compassion between mother and child with their touching cheeks, and Mary's sad, partially-closed and expressionless eyes give her a contemplative and pained look, suggesting her son's future. |
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Definition
Title: Anastasis
Artist: unknown
Date: 14th century
Medium: fresco
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance: |
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Term
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Definition
Title: Annunciation
Artist: unknown
Date: 14th century
Medium: tempura and linen on wood
Period: Byzantine
Historical Importance:
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