The Art of the Byzantine Empire 312-1453: Sources and Documents

by Cyril Mango

This anthology of translated histories, chronicles, saint's lives, theological treatises, and accounts presents an in-depth analysis of Byzantine art. Focusing on Constantinople, Mango chronicles the arts, and places them in historical, political, and theological perspective. First published in 1972.

Genres: History, Art History, Art, Nonfiction, Religion

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Cyril Alexander Mango is a British scholar in the history, art, and architecture of the Byzantine Empire. He is a former King's College London and Oxford professor of Byzantine and Modern Greek Language and Literature. He is the brother of Andrew Mango.


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Reviews

[Eileen Iciek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusual for a book on art history to lack any photographs or images. Instead, this book contains the contemporary (or near contemporary) writings of Byzantines about the art and architecture of the Eastern Roman Empire, otherwise known as the Byzantine Empire. It was fascinating to read about Constantine the Great's additions to the city, Procopios's description of the magnificence of the Hagia Sophia when it first opened, the beautiful buildings constructed by various emperors, the terrible destruction associated with iconoclasm. We do get some commentary from Cyril Mango, but it's pretty unobtrusive.

It was often difficult to imagine exactly what the writers meant when they describe various buildings, but I could at least get a flavor. Coffered ceilings and marble revetments (thin panels of marble attached to walls) were common. Mosaic imaged floors rivaled opus sextile patterns. So much gold and silver was used it must have been dazzling! Architectural standards have changed over the centuries, but it still must have been lovely.

I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in trying to imagine what the buildings and art of the Byzantine Empire looked during its heyday.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked it but wish there could have been more maps