Gendering Politics – The Female Authorial Voice of Anna Komnene

Author(s): Larisa Vilimonović / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

Through perspective of a feminist narratology, I have tried to answer some crucial questions on the issue of unique medieval woman’s text and its distinctive mode of enunciation. Feminist criticism seeks to reassess the modern narratological theories in term of gender, social and power relations. The main issues that concern feminist narratologists are voice, context and narrative level of a specific women’s text wherefore I have chosen to deal with this pivotal narratological elements in relation to Anna Komnene’s Alexiad. My final aim was to present in which way Anna conducted a peculiar ‘genderization’ of her narrative and how these crucial elements were shaped and moulded according to the authoress’ gender and her gender-related views and interests.

AT THE DAWN OF MASONRY ARCHITECTURE – CHURCH REMAINS AND ASSOCIATED BRICK STRUCTURES AT KOROINEN, TURKU

Author(s): Tanja Ratilainen / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2016

From the occupation layer of settlement adjacent to Tartu fort, deposited at some point between the 7th to 9th centuries, a soil sample was taken. In addition to other finds, charred plant macrofossils were obtained. These consisted of eight taxa. Barley was the most common cereal. The second most numerous cereal was rye. Bread wheat and oat were minor components. Four peas and two broad beans were found in addition to the cereals. Three hazelnut fragments and one oak acorn were the only remains of collected plants. One grain remnant of Bromus sp. could not be identified to the species level. Previously reported plant remains from the Iron Age sites of Kuusalu, Iru, Rõuge, Otepää, Soontagana, Valjaja, Tartu fort, Tartu settlement, Aindu and Linnaluuste I were compared with the current material. According to the finds, barley was the most common cereal during the first millennium AD. Rye became common during the Late Iron Age. Two oat finds are significant, because they represent the first Iron Age finds of the crop in Estonia. It is not clear, however, whether oat was cultivated or a weed in Tartu during the 7th–9th centuries. Broad beans were found for the first time in Iron Age Estonia.

Gnesioi filoi: the Search for George Syncellus’ and Theophanes the Confessor’s Own Words, and the Authorship of Their Oeuvre

Author(s): Andrzej Kompa / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2015

In a nutshell: 1. I believe that Ekloge Chronographias of George Syncellus and Chronographia of Theophanes the Confessor should be treated as a single project, undertaken in turn by two authors; 2. There are important stylistic differences between the two parts, noticeable in the fragments, in which the authors deliver some editorial remarks or disclose their personal opinions; from a wider selection of such phrases, references to the past or future such as ‘as I have mentioned / as I said / as have been said / as we demonstrated above, etc.’, being diverse and individual, are especially helpful. 3. This observation is of great use not only for the texts analysed here, it may be used to confirm authorship of many other texts. 4. As for George and Theophanes, the TLG search of such structures in all extant classical Greek and Byzantine output confirms the statement nr 1, with clauses like ὡς προέφην / καθὼς καὶ προέφην / ὡς προέφημεν / καθὼς προέφημεν both rare in the whole preserved corpus, and relatively often used by the author of Chronographia. The style of the proemium of Chronographia fits the rest of the work and differs from Ekloge Chronographias. 5. Precise analysis of a wider group of similar clauses shows that Ekloge Chronographias and Chronographia were written by two different authors; Chronographia was created by one author, distinctive and independent, no matter how reproductive at the same time he was. I see no convincing arguments not to call this author Theophanes. Some later and partial editiorial interventions to Chronographia, conceivable (rubrics?) and in some instances even certain, do not challenge this view. 6. Only a few entries from the initial parts of Chronographia fit more the George’s work; their style and content bear much more similarities with Ekloge (in AM 5796, 5814, 5818, 5827, 5828). These paragraphs, George’s aphormai, probably in form of loose notes, were inserted to Chronographia by its author the same way as he used his sources for the subsequent parts; they did not reach beyond the times of Constantine I. 7. I do not dismiss the message of the proemium to the Chronographia as it is much more credible than the discussion, sometimes hypercritical, on the vitae and the scraps of the Confessor’s biography. I see no reason not to believe that the idea established and developed by George was then taken over by his friend; the differences result from the independent work of the former and then of the latter, presumably with only rudimentary guidance at the beginning. 8. The ‘genuine friendship’, the crucial relation between the two authors is still the most useful key to understand the history of the tripartita – therefore, I analyse it in the final part of the paper.

Кирилица и глаголица срещу дявола, или още един оловен амулет от X в.

Author(s): Kazimir Popkonstantinov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2004

The present article publishes for the first time a lead amulet from the 10th с. with a text both in Cyrillic and Glagolitic script. The text is inscribed on both sides of the lead amulet in 62 lines which contain 614 signs altogether – 341 on the front side and 273 on the reverse. The total number of Glagolitic letters is 52. The most frequent of them is À (15 examples), while the rest appear with lesser frequency – Å (4); È (1); Ñ (1); Õ (4); Ø (9); Ù (4); Ý (4); Ô (1); Æ (2): › (5); ћ (1); Ö (1). After the reconstruction of the text on the basis of the surviving fragments it became clear that it is an incantation against the Devil striving to influence man. No similar text is known in the available apocryphal literature. The specifics of the text as well as the use of a mixed Cyrillic-Glagolitic script, which is not found in any of the other published lead amulets (except for one recently published amulet from Kărdzhali), make the amulet particularly important and interesting.

Кнѧжениѥ ѥмоу дасть дьржати словѣньско от Пространното житие на Методий и българо-византийските отношения от първата половина на IX в.

Author(s): Dimo Češmedžiev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2004

Two interrelated issues are examined in the article. First it is the issue of the localization of the Slavic КНѦЖЕНИѤ to which the apostle of the Slavs Saint Methodius had been appointed as governor in the beginning of his career. All the hypotheses advanced so far are examined and additional arguments for one of them are advanced, viz. that he was the governor of the Principality of Smolens. It is localized not in the Rhodope Mountain as is usually assumed but between the rivers Struma and Mesta, in the region of Drama, adjoining Philipi. On the basis of this an attempt is made to reconstruct an event dated to 837 when vast territories of today’s Macedonia and South Albania were annexed by the Bulgarian State, and it is claimed that the future “First archbishop of the Slavs” took part in it.

Тервел – Тривелиус – Теоктист

Author(s): Vasilka Tapkova-Zaimova,Raya Zaimova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2003

Tervel, one of the best-known Bulgarian khans, helped Byzantine Emperor Justianian II regain his throne in 705. For this he was richly rewarded, including the award of a high Byzantine title. Legends were created around the person of Tervel, particularly in West European literature, indicating that he converted to Christianity and had his people converted upon his return. That means that in these legends the work of Prince Boris-Michael is ascribed to Tervel. From Western authors this legend was passed on to Paisij and the Zographou history. Thus in both Hristofor Zhefarovich and several Bulgarian monastery murals we find images of Tervel, who allegedly took the name of Theoktiste. It is precisely the proliferation of this image that the authors pursue, seeking an explanation for the change of the name from Tervel-Tribellius to Theoktiste.

Към интерпретацията на седмолъчата звезда от Плиска

Author(s): Zarko Zhdrakov,Andrey Bojadzhiev,Stanizar Alexandrov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2002

The authors put forward a hypothesis which allows them to read the inscription on the Pliska rosette. They assume that the inscription is dedicatory and that it is written in Proto-Bulgarian. The writing is mixed: it contains Greek and Slavonic Letters and specific graphemes (the majority of them of Altaic origin). The inscription could be read as: жбанъ еалѣ су ѣѱ / IYI. The proposed translation is: The shepherd of the state (people) - marshal of the army (water) / God bless him? The Inscription dates from the end of the ninth or the very beginning of the tenth century.

За разчитането и тълкуването на така наречения „Кирилски надгробен надпис на княз Пресиян от XI в.“ от Михаловце / Михалд (днешна Словакия)

Author(s): Christo Dimitrov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2002

The inscription, now in the Zemplin Museum in Michalovce, Eastern Slovakia, has been interpreted as being Cyrillic and having probably been situated on the grave of the Bulgarian prince Presian. It was read as “Here lies Prince Presian, born in (997/998 AD), died in (1060/1061 AD)”. A de visu examination in 1999 revealed that the first line (“here lies”) and the fourth and fifth line (the dates of birth and death) are missing. The following conclusions are put forward: 1. The inscription is not Cyrillic, it cannot be connected with the Bulgarian Prince Presian, and it may be dated after the eleventh century. 2. It is a Latin memorial inscription from the late Middle Ages. 3. It may be deciphered as follows: K[astellani] IN M[emoriam] TATAUS [Tatus (?)] vel IANUS [Janus/Janos (?)] I[ustus] V[ir] i.e. “In Memory of the Castellan Tataus (Tatus?) [or Ianus (Janos)?], an equitable man”.

Viewing the Earliest Old Slavic Corpus Cantilenarum

Author(s): Svetlana Kujumdzieva / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2002

The formation of the earliest Slavic Corpus Cantilenarum or the corpus of chants is related to the activity of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. Though that there is an immense literature on the two brothers, their musical activity remains among the poorest field of study. According to the extent sources the translated and original works of the two Slavic Apostles are presented in the article. It is concluded that they knew both musical styles of the time – the syllabic and the melismatic. One of the basic musical-hymnographic forms is discussed – the kanon: the two brothers developed this form according to the main tendencies of the time. The compositional technics that were used by both of them, the principles of their translation, as well as the notational systems that it is suggested that they have used, are observed. The question of the relation between the East and the West in the field of music is also discussed in terms of the appearance of the notated literature during the 9th century. Some arguments are given that the two brothers knew well the liturgical practice according to the Studite Typikon and it was this practice that they have followed in their work. It is concluded at the end that the earliest old Slavic Corpus Cantilenarum was formed in the time of Cyril and Methodius. It was formed in the form that allowed this corpus to be transmitted, accepted and developed further as a separate branch in the cultures of the newly baptized Christian countries Bulgaria, Russia, Serbia, Walachia and Moldavia.

Egy államalapítás kori bizánci soliduslelet Székelyudvarhely környékéről

Author(s): Péter Prohászka / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: VI-VII/2012

Aus dem Karpatenbecken – aus dem ungarischen Siedlungsgebiet des 10. Jahrhunderts – sind bisher nur wenige Schatzfunde bekannt, welche im Laufe des 10. Jahrhunderts verborgen wurden. Bloss im Fund von Máramaros-Huszt waren mehr als 400 Silberdirhem, während die anderen (Gálya, Tokaj, Bodrogszerdahely) nur aus byzantinischen Goldmünzen bestanden. Die Reihe dieser können wir mit einem neuen Fund bereichern. Die Angaben darüber befinden sich zwischen den Akten der Münzsammlung ins Ungarischen Nationalmuseum. Der Kronstadter Numismatiker und Kunstsammler Adolf Resch hat 1911 sechs byzantinische Solidi – zwei aus dem 7. und vier aus dem 10. Jahrhundert – dem Münzkabinett des Ungarischen Nationalmuseums zum Kauf angeboten. Von den sechs Münzen behielt aber das Münzkabinett bloss die zwei Goldmünzen des Constantinus IV., während die anderen zu Resch zurückgesendet wurden. Ihre Bestimmungen nach Sabatier waren in der Akte vermerkt und so können wir sie nach BMC auch bestimmen: 1) Solidus von Romanos I. und Christophoros BMC 35-36 (921-927?), 2) Solidus von Romanos II. und Constantinus VII. BMC 62 (945-959), 3) Solidus von Basileios II. und Constantinus VIII. BMC 5 (976-1025), 4) Solidus des Nikephoros II. Phokas BMC 3 (963-969). Nach Resch’ Mitteilung wurden die Münzen in der Umgebung von Székelyudvarhely (heute Odorheiu Secuiesc, jud. Harghita, Rumänien) gefunden. Im Beitrag wird auch der Goldmünzverkehr des 10. Jahrhunderts im Karpatenbecken untersucht, sowie jene Faktoren, welche die unterschiedliche Intensivität ihres Vorkommens erklären können. Nach den Goldmünzen von Basileios I. und Constantinus VI. (868-879) fehlen die byzantinischen Solidi mehr als vierzig Jahre lang im Karpatenbecken. Sie erscheinen ab den 920-er Jahren wieder und kommen die Solidi von Constantinus VII. und Romanos II. in besonders grösser Zahl vor. Im letzten Drittel des 10. Jahrhunderts sink ihre Zahl und fählt ihr Schwerpunkt in die östliche Hälfte des Karpatenbeckens. Die in der Umgebung von Székelyudvarhely zum Vorschein gekommenen Goldmünzen gehörten höchtstwahrscheinlich zu einem grösseren Fund, welcher in jenen Jahren verborgen werden konnte, als König Stephan nach dem Sieg über seinen Rivalen seine Macht in die östliche Hälfte des Karpatenbeckens ausdehnte.

A Rusz történelme a középkori kutatások tükrében

Author(s): Tamás Péderi / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 3/2015

Кем был протополит Зоил Херсонский?

Author(s): Stefan Albrecht / Language(s): Russian Issue: 7/2015

Despite centuries of research, the history of Byzantine Taurica still has not been studied fully. So, there is still debate about the meaning of terms denoting positions. For example, until now it believed that protopolit Zoilus from Сherson was a high-ranking member of the city government. But we do not think so. We conducted a study to prove that this term is used almost exclusively in the eastern Mediterranean, where, in fact, it happens. Based on this, we conclude that Zoilus was not a senior member of the municipal government. Most likely, he was the leader of the local Jewish community or Syrian. We are carrying out our findings to the scientific discussion.

Последний пир князя Ростислава: политический контекст отношений Руси и Византии на Тамани и в Таврике в 60-е — 70-е гг. XI в.

Author(s): Alexandr A. Romensky / Language(s): Russian Issue: 7/2015

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of Rus’— Byzantine relations in Taman, and specific role of Tmutorokan’ as condominate possession of Byzantium and Rus’. The discussed details of the biography of Prince Rostislav Vladimirovich are revealed, as well as the question of the reasons for his poisoning by the katepano of Cherson and perception of this murder. The evidence about the hypothetical uprising of the Cherson residents in the 60s — 70s of XI c. and the campaign against Cherson of Princes Vladimir Monomakh and Gleb Svyatoslavich is analyzed. The data on the campaign against Korsun’ in 1077 seems unlikely.

Аварская реплика византийского солида на Самбийском полуострове

Author(s): Konstantin N. Skvorzov / Language(s): Russian Issue: 6/2014

This article is devoted to the find of the Avarian imitation of the emperor Heraclius (611—641) the Byzantine Solid made in the second half of the XX century in the west of Kalinigradsky peninsula (Sambia) in the neighborhood of the settlement of Kotelnikovo (Wargen, Kr. Fischhausen). In article various options of hit of this coin on this territory, both in the early Middle Ages are considered, and at the time of expansion of the German award on lands of pruss the XIII century. It is possible that the find of this coin in the western part of the Sambia in which there were ancient shopping centers connected with amber trade and where the most part of the streams and the rivers flowing into Vistula Lagoon and the Pregolya River, being the main transport communications of ancient inhabitants of local places originates allows to assume that a coin in the VII—VIII centuries. I could get on the peninsula just on these trade ways connecting the population of the Sambia peninsula through the Masuria with other regions of Europe with near and far, and, in particular, with Danube region.

Роль стратигов Херсона в осуществлении внешней политики Византийской империи в первой половине Х века

Author(s): V.V. Khapaev / Language(s): Russian Issue: 5/2013

The role of Byzantine theme Cherson strategoi in implementing of the Byzantine foreign policy on the North Black Sea region in the first half of the 10th century is analyzed in the article. The author comes to conclusion that Cherson strategos were responsible for the direct implementation of the Byzantine policy towards Pechenegs, Khazars, black Bulgarians, Alans and Russians. Despite the serious threats and a number of defeats, Byzantium managed to establish a balance of power between the peoples of the Northern Black Sea region. It guaranteed its military security in the region for the period until the year 987. A significant role in these foreign political successes played Kherson strategoi.

Некрополи средневекового Херсона как источник по истории разрушения города в начале XI века

Author(s): V.V. Khapaev / Language(s): Russian Issue: 4/2012

The article is devoted to the evidence base expansion of the hypothesis about the earthquake as the cause of Byzantine Cherson destruction at the beginning of XI century. Publication of suburb and city necropolis excavations results is involved for the first time as a source of information about this event. The author comes to conclusion, that the appearance of cemeteries with mass burial places of corpses under narthexes of destroyed basilicas «On the hill» and «1932 year» due to sanitary cleaning of the city after the catastrophe. In the early graves under «Basilica of 1935 year» ruins skeletons with traces of fused fractures were found. Perhaps they belong to Cherson residents, who were injured, but survived in the catastrophe of the beginning of XI century.

Epic Songs in Árpádian Age Hungary

Author(s): Balázs Sudár / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

While there is no direct evidence of epic singers in the Hungarian Conquest period, their presence and activity can nevertheless be posited on the strength of indirect evidence. Epic songs in Hungarian are known from the later fifteenth century, while the chronicles mention certain epic songs from the late twelfth century. Some of these epic songs celebrated the Conquest period and its events, and it seems unlikely that these songs were inspired by written sources and were, in this sense, secondary. The Hungarian expression énekmondás [song-speaking] is expressly archaic and has its parallels in Turkic languages. Cobza, the name of the musical instrument used by epic singers as accompaniment (Hung. koboz) is likewise rooted in the Turkic world and is a legacy of the pre-Conquest period, similarly to the designation of the performers as fiddlers

Re-Evaluating the Eleventh Century through Linked Events and Entities

Author(s): Tara Andrews,Márton Rózsa,Katalin Prajda,Lewis Read,Aleksandar Anđelović / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

This report presents the aims and ongoing progress of the ERC-funded project “Re-Evaluating the Eleventh Century through Linked Events and Entities” (Grant #101002357). We introduce the rationale for the project and the innovative solution for recording historical data that we have developed, known as the STAR model. We then give details of the four case studies undertaken in the project, which will shed new light on the movement of people, the understanding of place and space, and the production of texts within and among Christian societies of the eleventh century. Through the work of this project, we hope to be able to represent, examine, and illustrate the multiplicity of perspectives and interpretations that arise in the history of a century that was so pivotal to the development of the modern Near East and Europe.

The Most Noble Part of the Empire: The Image of Italy and Sicily in 11th Century Byzantine Historiography

Author(s): Vuk R. Samčević / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2024

This paper aims to show how 11th-century Byzantine historians viewed Italy and Sicily during a specific period when the Empire lost all its possessions in these provinces. By analysing the histories of Michael Psellus, Cecaumenus, Michael Attaliates, John Scylitzes, and Scylitzes Continuatus, we explore their portrayal of the loss of these provinces, which were historically closely linked to Ancient Roman history. After presenting Byzantine Italy and Sicily in the 11th century, the paper discusses the image of Italy as the birthplace of Ancient Rome and references to the distant past of Italy and Sicily found in the texts under review. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of Italy and Sicily for these historians, examining possible differences in their presentation of the provinces and the reasons behind them. In the final part, the paper analyses how anecdotes in the histories can offer valuable information on the understanding of these regions and their place in Byzantine collective memory.

Turkic, Roman, or Iranian? The Institution of the Six Great Boilades in Early Medieval Bulgaria

Author(s): Tsvetelin Stepanov / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

The original, shorter, version of this paper [see below n. 26] on the so-called six great boilades known from the Bulgar(ian) early medieval past (after the 890s) as ‘bolyars’ (cf. also the late Rus’ rendering as ‘boyars’) was published in 2002 but only in Bulgarian. That is why an English version with some addenda is proposed in the hope that colleagues might comment on it, elucidating important details concerning this institution. Thus, the paper intends to identify analogies with ancient and early medieval Iranian and (East) Roman/Byzantine statehood. However, similarities may prove to be purely formal rather than of a genetic (or causal) nature and, therefore, should not lead to final conclusions, especially in the absence of further unambiguous information coming from primary sources.