Uncommon sights at Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia has many important things to view when you visit. I thought I would share a few photos of lesser known aspects of this great museum. As it happens, I took all of them in the women’s gallery.
General Byzantine History
All other Byzantine history.
Six Byzantine women who ruled the Empire.
Almost from its earliest days, the Byzantine Empire had women who ruled – either in their own name or as regent.
Greek Fire and its contribution to Byzantine might by Konstantinos Karatolios – A Review
The historical record says that a Syrian named Kallinikos developed the substance known as Greek fire in the 7th century. Prior to that time, liquid incendiaries were known to Persians and other civilizations in the Middle East. But it was Kallinikos who developed this mixture into a lethally effective weapon that protected the empire from invasions and rebels for centuries.
A Rogues’ Gallery of Byzantine Rulers
It is rare to see a virtuous individual reach the pinnacle of power in any era. Byzantine rulers were no exception, with many rough and determined characters sitting on the throne in its eleven centuries. Some were brutal, but three (in my humble opinion) stand out for remarkable cruelty unleavened by positive accomplishments. They are …
A Beginners Guide to the Hippodrome of Constantinople
In the 4th century Constantine the Great built the Hippodrome of Constantinople to hold as many as 100,000 spectators. Remnants of the building survived into the Ottoman period that began in 1453, but the stadium was little used following the depredations of the Fourth Crusade in 1204.
Sickness & Death in the Medieval World
Many people who died over the centuries probably succumbed to now easily treatable conditions.
The Queen of Cities Does Not Disappoint
In March 2016 I finally realized my dream of visiting Istanbul, bringing along my husband and our youngest daughter. I scrupulously planned out our 10-day visit. I scheduled a number of tours for sites that I thought would require an experienced guide, while for other sites we got the audio guides. The Heart of the …
What if Basil II had been a different Basil?
On this, the second weekend in July, a reminder of the Tomos Unionis, handed down for over a thousand years. Basil II was one of the best known Byzantine emperors. He was the son of Romanos II, grandson of Constantine Porphyrogenitos, and great grandson of Leo VI the Wise and Romanos I Lecapenos. Basil had …
Byzantium & England intersected in the 11th century.
These two distant civilizations impacted each other in important ways in the 11th century. They also fought pivotal battles whose consequences are felt even today.
Things the Byzantines have taught me.
History has been a lifelong interest of mine, although I arrived late to the Byzantine party. The gradual accretion of knowledge of the Roman empire in the west, and English history – my early favorites – as I grew up gave me bits and pieces of history at a time, not the whole grand panorama. …
