Само дворцова ли е византийската култура?
Was Byzantine Culture Only a Court One?

Summary/Abstract: This lecture of Prof. Peter Schreiner, translated and prepared for the press by V. Gjuzelev, constitutes the reasoned negative answer to the question posed in the title. Byzantine court culture is considered in its three elements — ceremonial, literature and art. The complicated Byzantine court ceremonial, combining antique and Christian layers, was public in character and in this sense did not serve the interests of the palace alone. Byzantine literature was most closely related to the court and its permanent location — Constantinople. Its authors and „consumers“ were the emperor and the members of his family, as well as the courtiers and the high clergy. In complete contrast to literature, art enjoyed the widest influence. The role of Byzantine court culture becomes particularly obvious when compared to the output of cultural circles that were formed in the country, with popular culture and ascetic monastic culture. The fundamental importance of Byzantine court culture for the other countries in the Byzantine-Slav commonwealth has also been underscored.

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