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[German version] Ioannes (Ἰωάννης ὁ Ζωναρᾶς; Iōánnēs ho Zōnarâs). Byzantine historian and ecclesiastical jurist, head of the chancellery (Protasekretis) and high judge ( droungários tēs bíglēs) under the emperor Alexius I Comnenus (1081-1118). After Alexius' death Z. became a monk, he died after 1159 (?). One of Z.' main works is his chronicle (Ἐπιτομὴ ἱστοριῶν/ Epitomḕ historiôn), the division of which into 18 bks. is not due to the author. It extends from the creation of the world until the year 1118. Its sources are largely known. For Graeco-Roman…

[German version] This item can be found on the following maps: Byzantium | Xenophon | Colonization | Peloponnesian War | Persian Wars | Delian League | Athenian League (Second) (Σηλυμβρία/ Sēlymbría). City in Thrace on the Sea of Marmara, 60 km to the west of Byzantium/Constantinople, modern Silivri. The original Thracian settlement, whose name can be interpreted as 'city of Selys', was colonised by Greeks from Megara [2] even before Byzantium, i.e. c. 700-660 BC. S. was conquered by the Persians after the Ionian Revolt in 493 BC, was later a member of the Delian L…

[German version] (Σκλαβηνία/ Sklabēnía, Latin Sclavinia). A term, common since the 6th cent. AD in Greek and Latin, derived from the demonym Σκλαβηνοί/ Sklabēnoí or Sclavi (Slavs) and used to describe communities formed of Slav tribes inside and outside formerly Roman territories in the Balkan peninsula, Carinthia, Pannonia and Transsylvania. They were for the most part organised in warlike tribal associations without fixed territorial borders and also included members of non-Slavonic peoples; some were autonomous, othe…

[German version] Byzantine philologist, lived c. AD 1265-1316, a pupil of Maximus Planudes. He was the author of the Erōtḗmata grammatiká (Ἐρωτήματα γραμματικά), a Greek grammar in the form of a dialogue, which was still respected by the early Humanists, and scholia on numerous ancient texts, including the first two books of the Iliad, Hesiod's Érga kai hēmérai, Pindar's ‘Olympian Odes, on the Byzantine Triad of Euripides ( Hekábē, Oréstēs, Phoiníssai) and of Sophocles ( Aías, Ēléktra, Oidípous Týrannos), also on works by Aristophanes [3], by Theocritus, the Batrachomyomachía , etc.…

[German version] Dynasty (AD 717 to 802) during the Byzantine Empire (Byzantium), traditionally referred to as the 'Isaurian dynasty' (Isaurian emperors). The name is derived from the origin of its founder, Leo [6] III, who was from Germanicaea (modern-day Maraş) in northern Syria. The term 'Isaurian dynasty' goes back to the Chronicle of Theophanes (391,6 de Boor), according to which the emperor Leo III came from Isauria; its use was encouraged in polemics by later Byzantine historians opposing the iconoclastic religious policy of the SD. Durin…

[German version] Author of an account of the conquest of Thessalonica by the Arabs in AD 904. Allegedly, K. was a cleric and an eyewitness of the events. The narrative of the conquest is preceded by a description of the city. The authenticity has been questioned in recent times; in reality, a text originating shortly after 904 was probably revised and enriched with contemporary details under the influence of the conquest of Thessalonica by the Ottomans in 1430. Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography G. Böhlig (ed.), Ioannes Caminiates, De expugnatione Thessalonicae, 1973 Id., Die Einn…

[German version] Inheritable lands owned by Byzantine soldiers, intended to enable them to defray their cost of living and maintain their accoutrements and a horse during times of peace. The institution of ML probably goes back to the 7th cent. AD, when the Byzantine state, as a result of economic necessity resulting from the wars against the Arabs, was forced to remunerate soldiers by land grants instead of cash [3. 619-621]. The term ML (στρατιωτικὰ κτήματα/ stratiōtikà ktḗmata) first appears in the 10th century in a novella of Constantine [9] VII (944-959), through wh…

[German version] (νόμος στρατιωτικός; nómos stratiōtikós). Byzantine collection of regulations on ‘military law’  compiled in the 6th and 8th cents. AD from the Corpus iuris civilis and other sources. The NS has survived in various versions, sometimes in military manuals, sometimes as an appendix to several Middle Byzantine statute books, frequently together with the nómos nautikós (‘maritime law’). According to the NS, crimes such as refusing to obey orders, desertion and looting were to be punished by death in wartime; offences in times of peace w…

[German version] Colloquial Latin term for the Roman Empire, documented from the 4th cent. AD, in Greek (Ῥωμανία/ Rhōmanía) from the 6th cent. AD. In the western Middle Ages, the term refers merely to the area of the former Exarchate of Ravenna, present-day Romagna. In the east, the term continued to be reused in vernacular texts to refer to the Byzantine Empire (Byzantium) and was transferred from there, in the 11th cent., to the Sultanate of the Seljuq Turks of 'Rūm' in Asia Minor and in the 13th cent. to the so-called Latin Empire of the Crusaders in Constantinople and Greece. Berger, Albrec…

[German version] [1] see Michael [2] See Michael [2]. Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) [German version] [2] Georgius S. (Γεώργιος Σύνκελλος; Geṓrgios Sýnkellos). Author of a Byzantine world-chronicle, written c. AD 810, extending from the creation of the world until the beginning of the reign of Diocletianus in AD 284. Little is known about his life; he lived for quite a long time as a monk in a monastery in Palestine and later became σύγκελλος/ sýnkellos ('cell companion', i.e. assistant and private secretary) of the patriarch Tarasius of Constantinople. The chronicle Ἐκλογὴ χρονογραφίας/ E…

[German version] (θέμα /théma, pl. thémata; literally: 'area of deployment' [6]). Byzantine administrative districts that replaced the Roman provincial divisions beginning in the 7th cent. AD: After the loss of Egypt and the Middle East (mid 7th cent. AD), the Roman troops were withdrawn to Asia Minor only to be re-deployed there in the four themes of Anatolia, Armenia, Thracia and Opsikion, each under the command of a strategos (Byzantium II. D. incl. map). By the mid 8th cent., the authority of the provincial administration had been complet…

[German version] Designation for a group of 42 citizens of the city of Amorion in Phrygia (Asia Minor), who were taken to the caliph's residence in Samarra on the Euphrates after the Arab conquest in AD 838 and were executed there in 845. Their Greek vita, which was written by the monk Euodius soon thereafter, bears strongly legendary traits. The main focus lies with a theological discussion between the captives and their guards; the martyrs are executed because they refuse to convert to  Islam. Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography Editions: V. Vasil'ev, P. Nikitin (ed.), Skazanija…

[German version] (ὀψίκιον/ opsíkion). Originally a term for a troop detachment (Latin obsequium), from c. 680 AD one of the four original themes ( thḗma ) of the Byzantine Empire in Asia Minor. It comprised the northern part of the Dardanelles peninsula as far as the River Halys with a capital at Ancyra. Later it was reduced in size and limited in the west, with Nicaea [5] as its capital. Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography R. Hiss, s.v. O., LMA 6, 1418f.  C.F.W. Foss, s.v. O., ODB 3, 1528f.

[German version] Themes of the Byzantine Empire, established from the early 8th cent. AD for the construction and maintenance of a fleet. The most significant of them comprised the whole Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor from Miletus to Cilicia. The capital was probably Attaleia [1], but the crews were predominantly from the mountainous hinterland in the western part of the theme, as is shown by the name 'Theme of the Cibyrrhaeoti', which can be traced to the city of Cibyra about 80 km from the sea in the Carian-Lycian border region. Theme Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography 1 H. Ahrwe…

[German version] [1] Military handbook Byzantine term for military handbook, cf. Taktika [2]; cf. also stratēgikón . Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) [German version] [2] Taktika of Leo Military handbook ( stratēgikón) in 20 books, written c. AD 905 by the emperor Leo [9] VI or at his command. It is to some extent based on earlier sources such as writings by Onasander [2] and the stratēgikón of Mauricius, but it also contains many contemporary passages, e.g. on the Arabs and Hungary. The work, which is preserved in two different versions, exer…

[German version] (νόμος ναυτικός; nómos nautikós). Byzantine collection of legal rules concerning shipping, compiled in the 7th or 8th cent. AD and incorporated in the 9th cent. AD into the legal compilation of the ‘Basilica. Its traditional meaning of ‘Rhodian Sea Law’ derives from the subsequently added prologue asserting that the Roman emperors affirmed the ancient sea law of Rhodes. This statement, although mentioned in legal writings (e.g. Dig. 14,2), cannot be verified historically in any detai…

[German version] Author of a world chronicle ranging up to 1057, whose life remains altogether unknown. The chronicle is primarily based on the works of Theophanes, Ps.-Symeon Magistros and Georgius [5] Monachos, but also contains important information from otherwise unknown sources, e.g. regarding the history of the city of Constantinople. From 811 on, it renders the chronicle of Iohannes Skylitzes so accurately, that it could be used as a substitute until the new edition of Skylitzes' work was published. Georgius [5] Monachos; Skylitzes; Symeon Magistros; Theophanes Berger, Alb…

[German version] A weapon of the Byzantine navy similar to a flame-thrower, first mentioned in the defence against the Arab attack on Constantinople in AD 674-678. Its mode of operation was successfully kept secret for several centuries. Presumably petroleum (extracted from natural sources) was heated in a pressure container, ejected with air pressure through a metal pipe and ignited. The flames continued to burn on the water and were hard to extinguish.  Callinicus [3] Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography J. F. Haldon, M. Byrne, A Possible Solution to the Problem of Gree…

[German version] (Λακαπηνοί; Lakapēnoí). Byzantine imperial family of Armenian origin. Romanus I Lacapenus took the regency in AD 919 for Constantinus [9] VII. Porphyrogenetus, who was still a minor; he married the emperor to his daughter, had himself successively crowned co-emperor and emperor-in-chief in 920, forcing the emperor into the background by crowning his own sons Christophorus († 931), Stephanus and Constantinus co-emperors. In 944, Romanus I was deposed by his surviving sons, but they were themselves deposed in 945 by Constantine VII. Theophylactus, a younger son …

[German version] (Ψελλός/ Psellós). Byzantine writer, jurist and politician, b. Konstantinos P., c. AD 1018 at Constantinople. It is unclear whether P. (from ψελλίζειν/ psellízein, 'to lisp') was a personal byname or a family name. P. was an official at the imperial court from 1041, becoming imperial private secretary in 1043, quickly acquiring a great reputation as a teacher and receiving the title of 'consul of the philosophers' (ὕπατος τῶν φιλοσόφων/ hýpatos tôn philosóphōn) in 1045. Coming under suspicion of being an 'astrologer and heathen', he fell into disfavo…

[German version] This item can be found on the following maps: Byzantium Fortress, town and bishop's seat in the province of Pontus in the north-east of  Asia Minor, developed and extended during the reign of  Iustinian I and defended against the Arabs in AD 778 and 940; part of Turkey since 1071 (today Şebinkarahisar). The area around C. had economic importance because of the alum mining carried out there ( Alum) and was the centre of the  Paulician sect from the 7th to the 9th cents. Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography A. Bryer, D. Winfield, The Byzantine Monuments and Topograp…

Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) [German version] A. Introduction (CT) Constantinople's (C.) development as a city reached its zenith in the time of Justinian I (AD 527-565), though building activity continued until about 600. The deep political crisis which began in the Byzantine Empire after that had incisive results for C.: because of the Persian occupation of Egypt, grain deliveries ended in 618 and the aqueducts were destroyed in 626 during the siege by the Avars . The number of inhabitants, which was at …

[German version] (Σκυλίτζης/ Skylítzēs). Byzantine historian (second half of the 11th century AD), high court official in Constantinople, probably identical to a Iohannes Thracesius mentioned there in 1092 [6]. His so-called Synopsis Historiarum (Σύνοψις ἱστοριῶν/ Sýnopsis historiôn) appeared after 1070. It extends from 811 until 1057 and is conceived as a continuation of the Chronicle of Theophanes, whom in the foreword he singles out for praise in comparison with other historians (e.g. Psellos). Among his sources are e.g. 'Theop…

[German version] (στρατηγικόν; stratēgikón). A military manual, also called Taktikón, with accounts of military tactics, training and leadership, and weapon and siege technology. From the Early Byzantine Period we have the Stratēgiká of Urbicius (c. AD 500), the Naumachíai of Syrianus Magister (6th cent., on naval warfare), an anonymous treatise, and, most importantly, the so-called Strategikon of Mauricius. Attribution of the latter text to the emperor Mauricius (582-602) is uncertain, although it must date from before the 630s, as the wars against t…

[German version] Author of a lost Greek report on the travels of a legation to the ruler of Kinda in central Arabia and then to Ethiopia and southern Arabia in the year AD 530/1, the existence of which is known only from the  ‘Library of Photius (cod. 3). Similar journeys had been undertaken by 502 by N.'s grandfather Euphrasius, and several in 524 and later by his father Abram. According to Photius, the report emphasised the courage of N. in hazardous situations and contained information on the r…

[English version] (auch Kassiane oder Eikasia). Byz. Dichterin, Adressatin eines Briefs des Theodoros Studites vom J. 816/818 n.Chr., in dem sie als Novizin bezeichnet wird, geb. also ca. 800/805. Ihre angebliche Teilnahme an einer Brautschau für Kaiser Theophilos um 821 (?) ist legendär, doch wird deren Historizität h. noch ernsthaft diskutiert. K. lebte als Äbtissin eines von ihr gegr. Klosters in Konstantinopel, wo sie nach 843 starb. Überl. sind unter ihrem Namen verschiedene liturgische Dichtung…

[English version] Umgangssprachliche lat. Bezeichnung für das Römische Reich, bezeugt seit dem 4. Jh. n. Chr., seit dem 6. Jh. auch im Griechischen (Ῥωμανία). Die Bed. verengt sich im westl. Mittelalter auf das Gebiet des früheren Exarchats von Ravenna, die h. Romagna; im Osten wird sie in volkssprachlichen Texten für das Byz. Reich (Byzantion, Byzanz) weiterverwendet und geht von dort im 11. Jh. auch auf das Sultanat der seldschukischen Türken von “Rūm” in Kleinasien, im 13. Jh. auf das sog. lat. Kaiserreich der Kreuzfahrer in Konstantinopolis und Griechenland über. Berger, Alb…

[English version] Themen des byz. Reichs, die seit dem frühen 8. Jh. n.Chr. zum Aufbau und Unterhalt einer Flotte eingerichtet wurden. Das bedeutendste von ihnen umfaßte die gesamte kleinasiatische Mittelmeerküste von Miletos bis zur Kilikia. Hauptort war wahrscheinlich Attaleia [1], doch kamen die Mannschaften vorwiegend aus dem gebirgigen Hinterland im westl. Teil des Themas, wie der Name “Thema der Kibyrrhaiotoi” zeigt, der auf die ca. 80 km vom Meer entfernte Stadt Kibyra im karisch-lyk. Grenzgebiet zurückgeht. Thema Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography 1 H. Ahrweile…

Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) RWG [English version] A. Einleitung (RWG) Die städtische Entwicklung K. erreichte ihren Höhepunkt in der Zeit Justinians I. (527-565 n. Chr.), die Bautätigkeit wurde noch bis um 600 fortgesetzt. Die danach beginnende tiefe polit. Krise des byz. Reichs hatte für K. einschneidende Folgen: Wegen der persischen Besetzung Ägyptens endeten 618 die Getreidelieferungen, bei der Belagerung durch die Avaren 626 wurden die Wasserleitungen zerstört. Die Einwohnerzahl, die nach einem Höchsts…

[English version] Verfasser einer bis 1057 reichenden Weltchronik, über dessen Leben nichts bekannt ist. Die Chronik beruht v.a. auf den Werken des Theophanes, des Ps.-Symeon Magistros und des Georgios [5] Monachos, enthält aber auch wichtige Angaben aus sonst unbekannten Quellen z.B. zur Stadtgesch. von Konstantinopel. Von 811 an gibt sie die Chronik des Iohannes Skylitzes so getreu wieder, daß sie bis zum Erscheinen von deren Neuausgabe als Ersatz verwendet werden konnte. Georgios [5] Monachos; Skylitzes; Symeon Magistros; Theophanes Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography I…

[English version] Byz. Philologe, lebte etwa 1265-1316 n.Chr., Schüler des Maximos Planudes. Verfaßte die Erōtḗmata grammatiká (Ἐρωτήματα γραμματικά), eine griech. Gramm. in Dialogform, die noch von den frühen Humanisten geschätzt wurde, und Schol. zu zahlreichen ant. Texten, darunter den ersten beiden Gesängen der Ilias, Hesiods Érga kai hēmérai, Pindars ‘Olympien, zur byz. Trias des Euripides ( Hekábē, Oréstēs, Phoiníssai) und des Sophokles ( Aías, Ēléktra, Oidípus Týrannos), ferner zu Werken des Aristophanes [3], des Theokritos, der Batrachomyomachía u.a. M. hat dies…

[English version] Einem Flammenwerfer ähnliche Waffe der byz. Marine, zuerst erwähnt bei der Abwehr des arab. Angriffs auf Konstantinopel 674-678 n.Chr. Ihre Funktionsweise wurde mehrere Jh. lang erfolgreich geheimgehalten. Vermutlich wurde (aus natürlichen Quellen gewonnenes) Erdöl in einem Druckbehälter erhitzt, mit Luftdruck durch ein Metallrohr ausgeschleudert und entzündet. Die Flammen brannten auf dem Wasser weiter und waren schwer löschbar. Kallinikos Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography J.F. Haldon, M. Byrne, A Possible Solution to the Problem of Gree…

[English version] (ὀψίκιον). Urspr. Bezeichnung einer Truppenabteilung (lat. obsequium), seit ca. 680 n.Chr. eines der vier urspr. Themen ( thḗma ) des byz. Reichs in Kleinasien, umfaßte den Nordteil der Halbinsel von den Dardanellen bis zum Fluß Halys mit dem Hauptort Ankyra. Später wurde es verkleinert und auf den Westen mit dem Hauptort Nikaia [5] beschränkt. Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography R. Hiss, s.v. O., LMA 6, 1418f.  C.F.W. Foss, s.v. O., ODB 3, 1528f.

[English version] Verf. eines Ber. über die Eroberung von Thessalonike durch die Araber 904 n.Chr., angeblich Kleriker und Augenzeuge der Ereignisse. Der Schilderung der Eroberung geht eine Beschreibung der Stadt voraus. Die Authentizität ist in neuerer Zeit bezweifelt worden, tatsächlich wurde wohl ein kurz nach 904 entstandener Text unter dem Eindruck der Eroberung Thessalonikes durch die Osmanen 1430 überarbeitet und mit zeitgenössischen Details angereichert. Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography G. Böhlig (ed.), Ioannes Caminiates, De expugnatione Thessaloni…

[English version] Verf. eines h. verlorenen griech. Ber. über eine Gesandtschaftsreise zum Herrscher von Kinda in Zentralarabien und von dort nach Äthiopien und Südarabien im J. 530/1 n.Chr., dessen Existenz nur aus der ‘Bibliothek des Photios (cod. 3) bekannt ist. Ähnliche Reisen wurden bereits 502 vom Großvater des N., Euphrasios, 524 und später mehrfach von seinem Vater Abram durchgeführt. Laut Photios betonte der Ber. den Mut des N. in abenteuerlichen Situationen und enthielt Angaben über Rel.…

[English version] (Ψελλός). Byz. Literat, Jurist und Politiker, geb. um 1018 n. Chr. als Konstantinos Ps. in Konstantinopolis. Ob es sich bei Ps. (zu ψελλίζειν/ psellízein, “lispeln”) um einen persönlichen Beinamen oder einen Familiennamen handelt, ist unklar. Ps. war seit 1041 Beamter am Kaiserhof, wurde 1043 kaiserlicher Privatsekretär, erwarb schnell großen Ruf als Lehrer und erhielt um 1045 den Titel Philosophen-“Consul” (ὕπατος τῶν φιλοσόφων/ hýpatos tōn philosóphōn). Als “Astrologe und Heide” verdächtigt, fiel er 1055 in Ungnade, gab seine Ämter auf und …

[English version] (νόμος στρατιωτικός). Byz. Slg. von Vorschriften zum “Militärrecht”, die im 6. und 8. Jh.n.Chr. aus dem Corpus iuris civilis und anderen Quellen zusammengestellt wurde. Der n.s. ist in zahlreichen Fassungen teils in mil. Hdb., teils als Anhang mehrerer mittelbyz. Gesetzesbücher überl., dort häufig zusammen mit dem nómos nautikós (“Seerecht”). Verbrechen in Kriegszeiten wie Befehlsverweigerung, Fahnenflucht oder Plünderung werden nach dem n.s. mit dem Tod bestraft, Verstöße in Friedenszeiten häufig mit Ausschluß aus dem Militärdienst und …

[English version] (νόμος ναυτικός). Byz. Sammlung von Rechtsvorschriften zur Seefahrt, die im 7. oder 8. Jh.n.Chr. kompiliert und im 9. Jh. in die Gesetzessammlung der ‘Basiliken aufgenommen wurde. Die traditionelle Bezeichnung als “Rhodisches Seerecht” geht zurück auf den später hinzugefügten Prolog über die Bestätigung des ant. Seerechts von Rhodos durch die röm. Kaiser, das zwar in juristischen Schriften erwähnt wird (z.B. Dig. 14,2), aber histor. nicht näher faßbar ist, so daß der Zusammenhang mit dem folgenden Text unklar bleibt. Der eigentliche n.n. regelt die Vertei…

[English version] (Λακαπηνοί). Byz. Kaiserfamilie armen. Herkunft. Romanos I. Lakapenos übernahm 919 n.Chr. die Regentschaft für den minderjährigen Constantinus [9] VII. Porphyrogennetos, verheiratete ihn mit seiner Tochter, ließ sich 920 nacheinander zum Mit- und Hauptkaiser krönen und drängte ihn durch die Mitkaiserkrönung seiner Söhne Christophoros († 931), Stephanos und Konstantinos in den Hintergrund. 944 wurde Romanos I. von seinen noch lebenden Söhnen gestürzt, diese aber 945 ihrerseits von Konstantinos VII. Theophylaktos, ein jüngerer Sohn des Romanos,…

[English version] Bezeichung einer Gruppe von 42 Bürgern der Stadt Amorion in Phrygien (Kleinasien), die 838 n.Chr. nach der Eroberung durch die Araber nach der Kalifenresidenz Samarra am Euphrat verschleppt und dort im J. 845 hingerichtet wurden. Ihre bald danach von einem Mönch namens Euodios verfaßte griech. Vita trägt stark legendäre Züge. Das Hauptgewicht liegt darin auf theologischen Diskussionen zw. den Gefangenen und ihren Bewachern; die Hinrichtung der Märtyrer erfolgt wegen der Weigerung, zum Islam überzutreten. Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography Ed.: V. Vasil'…

[English version] Dieser Ort ist auf folgenden Karten verzeichnet: Byzantion, Byzanz Festung, Stadt und Bischofssitz in der Prov. Pontos im NO Kleinasiens, unter Iustinianus I. ausgebaut und 778 und 940 n.Chr. gegen die Araber verteidigt, seit 1071 türk. (h. Şebinkarahisar). Das Gebiet von K. war durch Alaunabbau (Alaun) wirtschaftlich wichtig und im 7.-9. Jh. das Zentrum der Paulikianer. Berger, Albrecht (Berlin) Bibliography A. Bryer, D. Winfield, The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos, 1985, 145-151.

[German version] A. Name A country on the middle reaches of the Nile; more precisely, the area today settled by a Nubian-speaking population: Lower Nubia from the 1st to the 2nd Nile cataract (Aswān to Wadi Halfa, Republic of Egypt) and Upper Nubia from the 2nd to the 4th cataract (Wadi Halfa to Meroe, northern Sudan). In a culturally and historically understood sense, Nubia also includes the land as far as the 6th cataract and around Khartoum (central Sudan). Besides the general term t-stj for the country, recorded from the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3000 BC), the Egyptian la…

[German version] [1] C. Mother of Avidius Cassius Wife of Avidius Heliodorus, mother of Avidius Cassius [1. 217]. Eck, Werner (Cologne) [German version] [2] C. Marciana Wife of senator Wife of a senator, relative of Cassius Apronianus (I. Eph. 3, 710B; Raepsaet-Charlier no. 197). Eck, Werner (Cologne) [German version] [3] C. Paterna Wife of Iulius [II 18] Asper Wife of Iulius Asper, cos. II AD 212 (PIR2 C 529). Eck, Werner (Cologne) Bibliography 1 Syme, SHA-Coll., 1987. [German version] [4] C. Byzantine poet and abbess, died c. AD 800/805 (also Cassiane and Eicasia). Byzantine poet a…

I. Political [German version] A. Definition In Late Antiquity, the term patrocinium referred to relationships of protection and dependence, especially in rural areas, in which the coloni or small farmers placed themselves under the protection of powerful office holders or the owners of large private landholdings. The patrocinium was primarily directed against the imperial administration, particularly against the tax collectors; the rural population sought to escape the obligation of paying taxes through the patrocinium. In modern scholarship, the patrocinium is frequently…

This item can be found on the following maps: Writing | Theatre | Byzantium | Christianity | | Dark Ages | Ionic | Natural catastrophes | Oracles | Pergamum | Athletes | Aegean Koine | Aegean Koine | Education / Culture | Mineral Resources ( Zmyrna; Σμύρνα/ Smýrna, Σμύρνη/ Smýrnē, Ζμύρνα/ Zmýrna, Ζμύρνη/ Zmýrnē). City in Aeolis, modern İzmir. [German version] I. Early times to Hellenistic Period On a hill near Bayraklı north of the Gulf of İzmir, settled since the 3rd millennium, the Aioleis settled late in the 11th cent. BC (mud brick houses). In c. 700 BC (?) the Iones from Colophon took…

This item can be found on the following maps: Caesar | | Etrusci, Etruria | Commerce | Italy, languages | Regio, regiones | Rome | Rome | Batavian Revolt Harbour city in the territory of the Boii on the Ionios Kolpos (Adriatic). [German version] I. Foundation and Roman Period According to myth, R. was founded by Thessalians (Zos. 5,27); however, it was actually founded by Umbri in the 6th-5th cents. BC (Str. 5,1,2; 5,1,11; 5,2,1: Ῥάυεννα/ Rháuenna). The character of R.'s topography includes its proximity to the sea and protection by the natural geographic conditions - s…

(Νικηφόρος; Nikēphóros). [German version] [1] Patriarch of Constantinople, died 828 Patriarch. N. was born around AD 750 or 758 in Constantinople; he embarked on a magistrate's career at the imperial court which he represented in 787 at the Council of Nicaea. Around 797 he became a monk and ran a poorhouse in Constantinople. In 806 he was appointed patriarch of Constantinople and failed to end the so-called ‘Moechian controversy’ between Theodoros Studites and the government. In 815 he had to resign at th…

[German version] [1] Byz. general under Justin I Son of a sister of Justin I, cousin of Justinian I, Byzantine general, as magister militum per Thracias under Justin I he conquered the people of the Anti who had invaded the Empire from the lower Danube. As patricius and primus magister militum praesentalis, he successfully combated the military revolt of Stotzas in North Africa in 536-537, on the orders of Justinian I. In a deployment in 540 against the first assault by Chosroes [5] I after the ‘eternal peace’ of 532, a shortage of troops preven…

(Κίλικες, Κιλικία; Kílikes, Kilikía). [German version] I. Cilices a) Tribe mentioned in Homer (Hom. Il. 6,397; 415; cf. Str. 13,1,7; 60), who settled in the southern Troad. b) The inhabitants of the region of Cilicia. The relationship between the two is not clear. Täuber, Hans (Vienna) [German version] II. Cilicia The name first appears around 858 BC in Assyrian sources as H̬ilakku; however, in these it only refers to the mountainous part of the region, where the Greeks first visited. An eponymous hero named Cilix appears in the mythological literature (e…

(Θεοφύλακτος; Theophýlaktos). [German version] [1] T. Simocatta Byzantine historian, 7th cent. (Θ. Σιμοκάτης; Th. Simokátēs). Byzantine historian, born in Egypt, jurist and high official in Constantinople under the emperor Heraclius [7] (610-641). The family name Simokates is not recorded prior to the Suda, the spelling with -tt- is modern. Author of a 'General History' (οἰκουμενικὴ ἱστορία/ oikoumenikḕ historía, 8 bks), designed as a continuation of Menander [13] Protector, on the reign of the emperor Mauricius (582-602) with a look back to the time …