From womb to the tomb: the Byzantine life course AD 518 - 1204

400 Pages·2013·3.36 MB·English

by  Eve Davies

From Womb to the Tomb:
The Byzantine Life Course AD 518 – 1204

By eve davies mphil ba hons AHEA

Mount Athos, Monastery of Iveron, cod. 1, fol. 300r: the
Dormition of the Virgin. 11th century.

A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

VOLUME I
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Abstract
Status and gender studies are now well established paradigms of Byzantine
social history. But academic enquiry has, so far, overlooked the significance of age.
This is perhaps because most biographical accounts open with conception and birth, and
move forwards to death, which seems so logical to us that the Life Course trajectory has
not stood out as a defining characteristic of Byzantine biographical narratives. However,
Byzantine authors do not present their characters as stagnant; characters are often shown
to develop in persona across their lives. The study of age and life-stage is crucial to
understanding the Byzantines’ evolving familial roles and societal responsibilities.
This thesis deconstructs the Life Course patterns as presented to us by authors
writing AD 518 to 1204, a critical period in the development of Byzantine culture. The
start point is 518, the year that the Justinian dynasty commenced, a period characterised
by a rich and abundant supply of evidence. The end point is 1204, the year that the
Latins captured Constantinople and the sources distinctly change in style and influence.
This thesis draws upon several types of evidence including literature, coins and
tombstones in order to expose this hitherto unexploited but fundamental facet of
Byzantine identity.

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For Reuben and Simon

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Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I would like to thank Prof. Leslie Brubaker who has
supported me from undergraduate level through to the present day. Her time, guidance
and enthusiasm have been instrumental throughout the research and writing of this
thesis. From the University of Birmingham, I would also like to thank Prof. Dimiter
Angelov, Dr Chris Callow, Dr Archie Dunn, Dr Mary Harlow, Dr Ruth Macrides and
Dr Steven Morewood. From the University of Oxford, I would like to thank Prof. Chris
Wickham and from the University of Kent, I would like to thank Prof. Ray Laurence.
I would like to extend my gratitude to fellow students and colleagues, including
Dr Lisa Alberici, Andriani Georgiou, Rebecca Day, Daniel Reynolds, Dr Jonathan
Shea, Dr Mike Saxby, Kyle Sinclair and Emma Southon, who have all provided a
sounding board for ideas and sustained my enthusiasm.
Research undertaken in this thesis would not have been possible without grants
from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the University of Birmingham,
Queen’s University Belfast, the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies and the
Classical Association.
Finally, I would like to thank all of my family and make a special mention of my
husband, Simon, my mum, Angela, and my father-in-law, Keith, who have provided me
with practical support and infinite encouragement.

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Contents
List of Figures viii-xii
List of Tables xiii-xiv
List of Abbreviations xv-xvi
Introduction 1-25

1. Conception to Childhood
26-57
1.1 Defining the Start of the Life Course 30-33
1.2 Conception 34-39
1.3 Pregnancy and Birth 40-53
1.4 Baptism and the Formation of Relationships 53-56
1.5 Conclusions 56-57
2. Childhood to Adolescence
58-
2.1 Defining the Start of Childhood 65-67
2.2 Relationships 68-76
2.3 Education and Training 76-82
2.4 Work and Economic Value 83-87
2.5 Conclusions 87-90
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3. Adolescence to Maturity
91-131
3.1 Defining Adolescence 94-105
3.2 Relationships 105-112
3.3 New Responsibilities 112-119
3.4 Physicality and Physiognomy 120-124
3.5 Sexual Awakening 125-128
3.6 Conclusions 128-131
4. Maturity to Old Age
132-174
4.1 Defining Maturity 137-141
4.2 Physicality and Physiognomy 142-154
4.3 Consolidation of Personality 155-157
4.4 Relationships 157-172
4.5 Conclusions 172-174
5. Old Age to Death
175-211
5.1 Defining Old Age 181-188
5.2 Physicality and Physiognomy 189-196
5.3 Relationships with Other Generations 196-205
5.4 Dying and Death 205-208
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5.5 Conclusions 209-211
6. Tombstones: an Insight into Life and Death 212-248

6.1 Gender Data 219-227
6.2 Status Data 227-230
6.3 Age Data 231-246
6.4 Collective Burials 246-247
6.5 Conclusions 247-248
Conclusions 249-265

Appendix A: Images 266-317
Appendix B: Hagiographical Data 318-335
Appendix C: Translation of Epitaphs 336-347
Bibliography
348-435
Primary Sources 349-363
Secondary Sources 364-435

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List of Figures
Figure 1.1: Poreč, The Euphrasian Basilica. Mosaic: the Visitation. 6th century.
Accessed online: http://www.icon-art.info/masterpiece.php?lng=en&mst_id=1545
(2/10/12). See: Prelog 1986.
Figure 1.2: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris Gregory, Gr. 510, fol. 3r: the
Annunciation and the Visitation. 879-882. See: Brubaker, 1999.
Figure 1.3: Mount Athos, Monastery of Dionysiou. Cod. 587m, fol. 117v: the
Visitation. 11th century. See: Christou, Kadas and Tsioumis Pelekanidis, 1974.
Figure 1.4: Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. Kynegetika Marc. Gr. Z 479, fol.
13v: a pregnant woman gazing at the statues of Castor, Hyacinthus, Narcissus and
Nireus. c.1060. See: Spatharakis, 2004.
Figure 1.5: Mount Athos, Monastery of Panteleimon. Cod. 2. Fol. 236r: the Visitation.
12th century. See: Christou, Kadas and Tsioumis Pelekanidis, 1974.
Figure 1.6: Kurbinovo, Church of Agios Georgios. Fresco: the Visitation. 1191.
Accessed online:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Embrace_of_Elizabeth_and_the_Virgin_Mary.jp
g (02/10/12). See: Chatzidakis 1994.
Figure 1.7: Moscow, The Tretyakov Gallery, catalogue number 25539. Novgorod Icon:
the Annunciation. c.1130-1140. See: Pentcheva 2007.
Figure 1.8: Cyprus, Timios Stavros Church, 14th century. Fresco: the Visitation.
Accessed online: http://creativecommons.org/ (13/05/10). Unpublished.
Figure 2.1: Mount Athos, Monastery of Iveron, cod. 1, fol. 300r: the Dormition of the
Virgin. 11th century. See: Christou, Kadas and Tsioumis Pelekanidis, 1974.
Figure 2.2: Mount Athos, Monastery of Dionysiou, cod. 588m, fol. 225v: Saint John the
Evangelist dictating to Prochorus. End of 10th century or beginning of 11th century. See:
Christou, Kadas and Tsioumis Pelekanidis, 1974.

Figure 2.3: Mount Athos, Monastery of Esphigmenou, cod. 19, fol. 1v: Saint John the
Evangelist dictating to Prochorus. 11th century. See: Christou, Kadas and Tsioumis
Pelekanidis, 1974.
Figure 2.4: Mount Athos, Monastery of Dionysiou, cod. 587m, fol. 1v: Saint John the
Evangelist dictating to Prochorus. 11th century. See: Christou, Kadas and Tsioumis
Pelekanidis, 1974.
Figure 2.5: Mount Athos, Monastery of Panteleimon, cod. 25. Fol. 143v: Saint John the
Evangelist dictating to Prochorus. 12th century. See: Christou, Kadas and Tsioumis
Pelekanidis, 1974.
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Figure 2.6: Mount Athos, Monastery of Dionysiou, cod. 35, fol. 168v: Saint John the
Evangelist dictating to Prochorus. 12th century. See: Christou, Kadas and Tsioumis
Pelekanidis, 1974.
Figure 2.7: Moscow, State Historical Museum, Khludov Psalter, Gr. 129, fol. 147v and
148r: Scenes from the life of David. 9th century. Accessed online:
http://www.historyofscience.com/G2I/timeline/index.php?category=Survival+of+Infor
mation (03/10/10). See: Ščepkina 1977.
Figure 2.8: Istanbul, Great Palace, Mosaic: Boy feeding donkey. 6th century. Accessed
online: www.dotjack.com/opq/opq20070401.htm (03/10/10). See: Cimok 2001.
Figure 2.9: Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Kynegetika Marc. Gr. Z 479, fol.
2v: Children and adults hunting birds with reeds. c.1060. See: Spatharakis 2004.
Figure 3.1: Mount Athos, Monastery of Agios Panteleimonon, Homilies of Gregory of
Nazianzus, cod. 6, fol. 178r: Gregory with younger and older clerics. c.1080. Accessed
online: http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/media/original/d21e.jpg
(15/06/10). See: Galavaris 1969.
Figure 3.2: Mount Athos, Monastery of Agios Panteleimonon, Homilies of Gregory of
Nazianzus, cod. 6, fol. 77v: Gregory and Julian the Apostate. c.1080. Accessed online:
http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/media/original/d26o.jpg
(15/06/10). See: Galavaris 1969.
Figure 3.3: Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Kynegetika Marc. Gr. Z 479, fol.
2r: fishing scene. c.1060. See: Spatharakis 2004.
Figure 3.4: Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Kynegetika Marc. Gr. Z 479, fol.
3r: costume and equipment of the hunters. c.1060. See: Spatharakis 2004.
Figure 3.5: Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Kynegetika Marc. Gr. Z 479, fol.
24v: a ploughman. c.1060. See: Spatharakis 2004.
Figure 3.6: Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Kynegetika Marc. Gr. Z 479, fol.
17v: a hunter training his dog by burying a hare. c.1060. See: Spatharakis 2004.
Figure 3.7: Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Kynegetika Marc. Gr. Z 479, fol.
18r: a dog looking for the trail and then moaning like a woman when he does not find it.
c.1060. See: Spatharakis 2004.
Figure 3.8: Ravenna, San Vitale, Mosaic: Justinian I and his entourage. 6th century.
Accessed online: http://traumwek.standford.edu/philolog/Justinian.jpg (18/11/10). See:
Barber 1990.
Figure 3.9: Paris, Louvre, Harbaville Triptych: the deesis and saints. 10th century.
Accessed online:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Triptych_Harbaville_Louvre_OA
3247_recto.jpg (18/11/10). See: Grabar 1980.
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