Guardian of Eden, Guardian of the City: The Lost Mosaic of the Archangel Michael in Hagia Sophia of Constantinople

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-105
Author(s):  
Andrea Torno Ginnasi
Keyword(s):  
Reference Point ◽  
Sacred Space ◽  
14Th Century ◽  
South West ◽  
Hagia Sophia ◽  
The City ◽  
The Church ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Artistic Tradition

Abstract This contribution aims to shed light on the lost mosaic of the Archangel Michael with a drawn sword once set, according to Niketas Choniates, in a πρόναος of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. After an overview of previous hypotheses, I will argue for a position just outside of the south-west vestibule of the church in the 10th century. Such a location and dating would be in line with the connotation of the Archangel as defender of a sacred space, perceived as a sort of Eden in Byzantine textual and visual sources. The spread of similar representations confirms the role of a reference point that the mosaic soon acquired by virtue of its position at the ceremonial entrance of the most important church of the Empire, not to mention its political importance. The ideological character of the Archangel went a step further during the last centuries of the Empire. A unique use of the First Arab Siege of Constantinople as a stage for St. Michael’s role as sword-wielding guardian in a 14th century Serbian painting is more broadly reflective of a theme throughout Byzantine artistic tradition in varied media. This representation reflected the duty of the Archangel not just as guardian of Hagia Sophia, but also of the emperor, Constantinople and the Empire in a broader sense.

scholarly journals Veterinarians and Public Health: Food Control in the Professionalization of Veterinarians

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e1806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari Tove Elvbakken
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
The State ◽  
Food Control ◽  
Health Food ◽  
Food Inspection ◽  
Core Practice ◽  
The City ◽  
Shed Light

This article explores the role of food control in the professionalization of veterinarians in Norway. Veterinarians became engaged in public health through food control and market inspection, which were the responsibility of Norway’s city boards of health from the 1860s. Food inspection served a double purpose: to ensure honest trade and to maintain the safety of food. I argue that food control, which was associated with cities’ efforts to secure public health and order, was important to the legitimacy of the veterinarian profession. This activity is not what one today sees as a core practice of veterinarians, which is the prevention and curing of animal sickness. Exploring boundary activities at the fringes of a profession, and especially activity connected to the city and the state, may shed light on the more general sources of professional influence and legitimacy in the Norwegian profession state.

scholarly journals Built Heritage Attractions in Cultural Tourism: the case of Al - Mustansiriya Madrassa, Baghdad

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
Huda Adil Abdulhameed Al-Obaidi ◽  
Osamah AbdulMunem Al-Tameemi
Keyword(s):  
Investment Project ◽  
Cultural Tourism ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Historical Building ◽  
Economic Resource ◽  
Built Heritage ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The City ◽  
Shed Light

This research deals with the subject of Built heritage attractions in Muslim historical building, for what it represents, as an element dealing with Cultural tourism, in the process of developing tourism industry of the city. The location of Mustansiriya Madrassa in Baghdad’s commercial district could make it a profitable investment project to revive a cultural, artistic and tourist centre that could make it a cultural Tourism haven. The problem emerges through, how the role of built heritage to attract tourists in order to give vitality and liveability to the cultural tourism destination such as Al - Mustansiriya Madrassa which is one of the most popular heritage destinations, a historic school building situated in the ancient Abbasid district of Rusafa in the very heart of Baghdad. Therefore, the research's aim is to shed light on the heritage attraction as a mean to clarify the meaning of Cultural Tourism and specifying its definition. This research explains how the built heritage plays an important role in tourism in general and in the cultural tourism in particular because they attract tourists and provides a sustainable economic resource through its inclusion of values that make it distinct from other sources of attraction.

scholarly journals PERGESERAN MAKNA FILOSOFIS ALUN-ALUN KOTA BANDUNG PADA ABAD XIX – ABAD XXI

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 203
Author(s):  
Miftahul Falah ◽  
Agusmanon Yuniadi ◽  
Rina Adyawardhina
Keyword(s):  
Open Field ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Sacred Space ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
Historical Method ◽  
Public Open Space ◽  
The City ◽  
City Park

Sebagai kota yang dibangun dengan mempertimbangkan aspek kosmologis, alun-alun merupakan salah satu elemen pembentuk Kota Bandung sejak menjadi pusat pemerintahan Kabupaten Bandung pada 25 September 1810. Alun-alun Kota Bandung mengalami perubahan fungsi, dari titik batas ruang profan dan ruang sakral menjadi ruang terbuka publik sehingga makna filosofisnya mengalami pergeseran. Untuk memahami perubahan tersebut secara kronologis, dilakukan penelitian historis dengan menerapkan metode sejarah yang terdiri dari empat tahap, yaitu heuristik, kritik, interpretasi, dan historiografi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dalam perkembangannya, warga Kota Bandung tidak lagi memandang alun-alun sebagai salah satu elemen penyeimbang antara makrokosmos dan mikrokosmos, melainkan sebagai ruang terbuka publik tempat bersosialisasi seluruh warga kota. Fungsi Alun-alun Kota Bandung menunjukkan perubahan, dari sebuah lapangan terbuka dengan fungsi administratif kota tradisional hingga menjadi sebuah taman kota yang menjadi destinasi wisata di pusat kota sehingga memperlihatkan fungsi sosial-ekonomi.As a city that was built which takes the cosmological aspect into consideration, the square is one of the elements that formed the city of Bandung since becoming the capital of Bandung Regency on September 25, 1810. Its changing functions, which were traditionally perceived as a boundary of profane and sacred space into modern public open space, reflected a shifting in philosophical meaning. To understand the changes chronologically, this paper uses historical method which consists of four stages, namely, heuristics, critique, interpretation, and historiography. The results show that gradually the citizens of Bandung no longer look at the city square as one of the elements of the balance between the macrocosm and microcosm, but rather as a place for community gatherings. Its function changes from an open field with the administrative role of the traditional city into a city park that became a tourist destination in the city centre with socio-economic functions.

scholarly journals Augustinus en de Joden: een inleidend overzicht

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Van Oort
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
Positive Sign ◽  
City Of God ◽  
Augustine Of Hippo ◽  
Current Opinion ◽  
Sharp Distinction ◽  
The City ◽  
The Church

The article explores how Augustine of Hippo (354-430) deals with the Jews and Judaism. First it investigates the occurrence and meaning of the word �Iudaeus� in Augustine�s works. It turns out that Augustine, unlike many a predecessor, does not make a sharp distinction between �Hebrew�, �Israelite�, and �Jew�. Mainly on the basis of The City of God the role of the Jews in history is discussed. According to Augustine, all true believers (even those living before the time of Jesus) are �Christ believers� and are considered to belong to Christ�s body, the Church. The diaspora of the Jews is evaluated both negatively and positively: negatively as a consequence of �their putting Christ to death�; positively since through the dispersion of the Jews their Scriptures have been dispersed as well and so provide �testimony to the truth taught by the Church�. The so-called �mark of Cain� can not be interpreted as a predominantly positive sign: it provides protection indeed, but this divine protection is, once again, �for the benefit of the Church�. Contrary to some current opinion, it is stressed that Augustine knew contemporary Jews in Roman North Africa quite well.

The Edinburgh Book Trade and Vernacular Literature, 1500–1660

2020 ◽  
pp. 54-96
Author(s):  
Adam Fox
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Book Trade ◽  
Vernacular Literature ◽  
Extensive Range ◽  
The City ◽  
Shed Light

Chapter 2 surveys the development of the book trade in Edinburgh during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries with a particular emphasis on the production and circulation of more popular works in Scots and English. It traces the development of printing in Edinburgh, looks at the expansion of booksellers in the city, and examines the role of travelling chapmen in disseminating literature across Scotland and into England. The remarkable inventories of Thomas Bassandyne and Robert Gourlaw are examined in some detail in order to shed light on the extensive range of vernacular literature from the London market that was being sold in the Scottish capital in the later sixteenth century.

‘What could be more Christian than to allow the Sikhs to use it?’ Church Redundancy and Minority Religion in Bedford, 1977–8

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 399-411
Author(s):  
John Maiden
Keyword(s):  
Race Relations ◽  
Sacred Space ◽  
Church Of England ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
Religious Congregations ◽  
British Council ◽  
Minority Religion ◽  
The City ◽  
The Church ◽  
Migrant Groups

In 1985, Faith in the City, The Church of England’s report on Urban Priority Areas, commented that Christians frequently had an excess of church buildings, while ‘people of other faiths are often exceedingly short of places in which to meet and worship’. The challenge of securing sacred space has been common to migrant groups in Britain, and during the 1970s sharing of space between national historic denominations and migrant religious groups was identified by the British Council of Churches (BCC) and its Community and Race Relations Unit as a leading issue for interreligious relations. In the case of the Church of England, ancillary parish buildings were occasionally shared with non-Christian religious congregations for limited use: for example, later that decade the church halls of All Saints, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, were being used by Muslims and Hindus for festivals and clubs.

scholarly journals Embracing a vision of the New Jerusalem (Rv 21:1−22:5) to impact on life and society

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin H. Pohlmann
Keyword(s):  
Primary Role ◽  
City Of God ◽  
Biblical Literature ◽  
New Jerusalem ◽  
Heavenly City ◽  
The City ◽  
The Church ◽  
Society Today ◽  
Holy City

Apocalyptic biblical literature has played a significant role in motivating and mobilising Christians. As part of this genre, the Apocalypse of John has played this mobilising role within the church throughout its history. Jerusalem is often incorporated into this genre to conjure up different emotions and images to impact many different people. For example, the Jew annually recites the words to fellow Jews at every Passover meal: ‘Next year in Jerusalem’. Most Christians know the hymn ‘The holy city’, originally penned by Frederic Weatherly in 1892. It lifts many a spirit as it conjures up the idea of a beautiful, perfect, heavenly city of God. However, there is more to this apocalyptic vision, which will be explored in this article. The city upholds the hope of decent godly living today. Whilst Jerusalem is a city with an extremely chequered history, it remains to be the launching pad of a dream that believers can embrace in order to impact society for the better. The vision in Revelation 21–22 is the launch of the ‘idea’ of God’s intention for society today, and the ‘implementation impetus’ is the primary role of the church. In the greater scheme of things, the world community is the target group for a better society for everyone.Aanneming van ’n visioen van die Nuwe Jerusalem (Op 21:1–22:5) ten einde ’n invloed op lewe en die samelewing uit te oefen. Apokaliptiese Bybelliteratuur het ’n beduidende rol in die motivering en aansporing van Christengemeenskappe gespeel. Die Openbaring van Johannes het hierdie motiveringsrol deurgaans in die geskiedenis van die kerkas deel van dié genre vertolk. Jerusalem is dikwels hierby ingesluit om ’n verskeidenheid van emosies en beelde op te roep ten einde ’n impak op ’n verskeidenheid mense te maak. Die Jood, byvoorbeeld, haal jaarliks die volgende woorde teenoor mede-Jode tydens die Paasmaaltyd aan: ‘Volgende jaar in Jerusalem’. Die meeste Christene ken die gesang ‘The holy city’ wat oorspronklik deur Frederic Weatherly in 1892 geskryf is. Dit hef menige gelowiges se gemoedere op omdat dit die beeld van ’n pragtige, perfekte stad van God oproep. Daar is egter meer aan hierdie openbaringsuitsig wat in hierdie artikel verder ondersoek word. Die hemelstad bekragtig die hoop vir ’n godvrugtige lewe vandag. Alhoewel Jerusalem ’n stad met ’n uiters veelbewoë geskiedenis is, is dit tog die beginpunt vir hierdie droom van gelowiges om die samelewing te verbeter. Die visioen in Openbaring 21–22 is die bekendstelling van die ‘idee’ van God se bedoeling vir ons hedendaagse samelewing en die ‘vervullende beweegkrag’ is die primêre rol van die kerk. Holisties beskou, is die wêreldgemeenskap die teikengroep vir ’n beter samelewing vir almal.

scholarly journals Extreme territorial aggression by urban Peregrine Falcons toward Common Buzzards in South-West England

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Dixon ◽  
Andrew Gibbs
Keyword(s):  
City Centre ◽  
Territorial Aggression ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
South West ◽  
Peregrine Falcons ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Number Frequency ◽  
The City ◽  
The Church ◽  
South West England

Abstract Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) breeding on a city centre church in Exeter, in the south-west of England, have been studied in detail since first occupation in 1997. During this period, changes in both male and female falcons have been recorded. Following the arrival of a new female Peregrine in 2009, a dramatic change in behaviour towards Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) on passage over the city was noted. Buzzards flying over Exeter are attacked by the falcons, especially so when in proximity to the church. We have attempted to document these attacks through our own observations, with additional information from local residents and wildlife organisations. Further records have come from veterinary surgeries and wildlife rehabilitators regarding injured buzzards found in the city. This paper documents the extreme levels of territorial aggression as demonstrated by the pair of Peregrines during cooperative attacks on Buzzards. We reveal this unique interspecific behaviour by summarising the number, frequency, timing and outcome of attacks undertaken over an eight-year period. We describe and illustrate the strategy employed by the Peregrines during a typical attack, plus consider implications on breeding productivity and the future scenarios should one of the current pair be replaced.

The Sacred Home in Renaissance Italy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail Brundin ◽  
Deborah Howard ◽  
Mary Laven
Keyword(s):  
Religious Experiences ◽  
Traditional Research ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Devotional Life ◽  
Renaissance Italy ◽  
New Research ◽  
The City ◽  
The Church

The Sacred Home in Renaissance Italy explores private devotional life in the Italian Renaissance home between 1400 and 1600, and suggests that piety was not confined to the Church and the convent but infused daily life within the household. Books, buildings, objects, spaces, images, and archival sources help to cast light on the practice of religion in the home. Acts of devotion, from routine prayers to extraordinary religious experiences such as miracles and visions, frequently took place at home amid the joys and trials of domestic life—childbirth, marriage, infertility, sickness, accidents, poverty, and death. The book moves beyond traditional research on the Renaissance in important ways. First, it breaks free from the usual focus on Venice, Florence, and Rome to investigate practices of piety across the Italian peninsula. In particular, new research into the city of Naples, the Marche, and the Venetian mainland offers fresh insights into the devotional life of the laity. Moreover, it goes beyond the study of elites to include artisanal and lower-status households, and points to the role of gender and age in shaping religious experience. Drawing on a wide range of textual, material, and visual sources, this book recovers a host of lost voices and compelling narratives at the intersection between the divine and the everyday. Its multidisciplinary approach enables unprecedented glimpses through the keyhole into the spiritual lives of Renaissance Italians.

Ritual Settings I

2019 ◽  
pp. 37-59
Author(s):  
Robert G. Ousterhout
Keyword(s):  
Sacred Space ◽  
Fifth Century ◽  
Regular Part ◽  
Initiation Rite ◽  
Church Building ◽  
The City ◽  
Common Prayer ◽  
The Church

How did the church building become sacred space? Early Christians understood two models of sacred presence. In the first, sanctity was invoked by the congregation coming together in common prayer, an experience that was formalized into the liturgy. In the second, sanctity was represented by the presence of relics or the tombs of martyrs and saints. In Rome, the early churches inside the walls of the city were primarily liturgical; those outside the walls were commemorative, set in relationship to the tombs of martyrs and the surrounding catacombs and cemeteries. Subsequent centuries witnessed a collapsing of the two categories. At the same time, the building vocabulary expanded, with baptisteries serving as symbolic settings for the initiation rite and mausolea offering special settings for privileged burials. By the fifth century, monasticism became a regular part of the Christian landscape.

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