The Tent in the Context of the Byzantine Power Symbolism in the 10th–12th Centuries

ntroduction. The tent (σκηνή, τέντα) was a simple and everyday object of Byzantine life. Diplomats, merchants, pilgrims, soldiers, travelers, and simply wanderers spent a considerable part of their lives in a tent. It was a natural element of the Byzantine landscape, and geographical mobility was an important part of the lifestyle of the Byzantine elite and its psychology. But this simple, everyday thing in a certain context took on an extremely important meaning and turned into an important religious and social symbol. A simple object could indicate complicated social and ideological constructions of the 10th–12th centuries. The task of the study is to reveal the implicit power context which in certain cases endowed simple everyday objects (like a tent) with an extremely important meaning. Methods. The article is written in the general context of structuralist methodologies. We regarded the tent as a simple sign indicating the complex representations that lie behind its content. Structuralist methods allow for a correct reconstruction of Byzantine everyday representations in different strata of society. Analysis and Results. The rich tent in Byzantine society of the 10th–12th centuries was not just a part of the daily military life of the aristocracy, but also an important element of power relations. Tents defined the social status of their owners, emphasized their power and importance. Aristocratic tents of that time were a space where power decisions were made and court life took place. The tent as a power symbol relied on a broad religious context. The Tabernacle of Moses, which was the model for every tent in the Byzantine Empire, was also created by the Lord’s will, with Moses himself acting as “royal scribe”. The folkloric tent of Charos in the Acritic songs turns out to be the center of the “lower” world in which Charos ruthlessly reigns. Behind each reading of the symbolic meaning of the tent lie different social practices of different groups of Byzantine society, but they are all filled with their own understanding of the essence of power.

Hamlet – A Never-Ending Story

This article fuses a survey of the play’s most important standard interpretations with those aspects which may be considered particularly fascinating about this text: the conflict of England’s catholic past with the rise of protestant culture in the early modern period; the meta-dramatic dimension of the play; the theatricality of Renaissance court life; the play’s reflection of the emerging modern subject triggered off by the rise of reformation discourse. To elucidate some aspects which tend to be overlooked in the scholarly discussion of Hamlet, the article will bring two important topics into focus: the courtly discovery of perspective and the dying Hamlet’s request to tell his story to the afterworld at the end of the play.

Cultural identity in the Roman Near East: An historiographical exercise

<p>The central premise of this thesis is that the concepts of hellenisation and romanisation are no longer useful as interpretive models of the Graeco-Roman Near East. Through most of the twentieth century they did good service generating research questions and providing innovative explanations of both existing and new data. On the one hand the notion of hellenisation focused attention on the historical importance of cultural change in the Hellenistic period, while the concept of romanisation focused scholarly attention on life in the provinces rather than on the court life of the imperial city and highlighted the importance of epigraphy and archaeology as against the philological study of literary texts. But the underlying assumptions of both concepts — the superiority of Graeco-Roman culture, the 'civilising' role of the intrusive powers, the passivity of the indigenous peoples of the region, the notion that Greek, Roman and Semitic cultures are bounded entities — are now dated. In the first part of the thesis I deconstruct the concepts of hellenisation and romanisation in detail and then develop an alternative framework which is avowedly postmodern and interdisciplinary, eschews eurocentrism, and uses postcolonial concepts as well as insights from modern social theory. In the second part of the thesis I use the alternative framework to review the evidence relating to the provincial city of Gerasa in the Roman province of Arabia. Looked at through this alternative prism it has been possible to offer some different readings of the evidence not apparent in earlier interpretations. In particular, in using the concepts of resistant strategy and cultural imperialism to discuss the emergence of the Antonine period city plan, I challenge the traditional view of Hadrian's urbanisation policy.</p>

Cultural identity in the Roman Near East: An historiographical exercise

<p>The central premise of this thesis is that the concepts of hellenisation and romanisation are no longer useful as interpretive models of the Graeco-Roman Near East. Through most of the twentieth century they did good service generating research questions and providing innovative explanations of both existing and new data. On the one hand the notion of hellenisation focused attention on the historical importance of cultural change in the Hellenistic period, while the concept of romanisation focused scholarly attention on life in the provinces rather than on the court life of the imperial city and highlighted the importance of epigraphy and archaeology as against the philological study of literary texts. But the underlying assumptions of both concepts — the superiority of Graeco-Roman culture, the 'civilising' role of the intrusive powers, the passivity of the indigenous peoples of the region, the notion that Greek, Roman and Semitic cultures are bounded entities — are now dated. In the first part of the thesis I deconstruct the concepts of hellenisation and romanisation in detail and then develop an alternative framework which is avowedly postmodern and interdisciplinary, eschews eurocentrism, and uses postcolonial concepts as well as insights from modern social theory. In the second part of the thesis I use the alternative framework to review the evidence relating to the provincial city of Gerasa in the Roman province of Arabia. Looked at through this alternative prism it has been possible to offer some different readings of the evidence not apparent in earlier interpretations. In particular, in using the concepts of resistant strategy and cultural imperialism to discuss the emergence of the Antonine period city plan, I challenge the traditional view of Hadrian's urbanisation policy.</p>

Palace Banquet in the Heian Japan. The Origins. Part 1

The process of meal consumption was one of the key elements in the life of early medieval Japanese society as it included special rituals. Thus, food had an enormous symbolic purpose among the utilitarian ones. Court banquets were held to enhance the prestige of the host or strengthen social ties between the participants. The educational potential of the court feast was no less important. This practice was well-grounded in the early Japanese court religious and ceremonial tradition and partially continued its ideals. Court regulations preserved and furthered such traditions, for example, the Bokuzansho (Notes of the Northern Hills) is the best known among them. It is possible that the strict regulation of food amount and type not only enlarged the sphere of the sacred but also made court life more disciplined. The common meal strengthened the ideals of the court environment: the emperor and his inner circle were distinguished from the general community. To sum up, the description of the court allows us to better understand the life in the imperial palace, the provisions and ideals in dignitaries’ minds, and the various social norms and problems that existed in the court society. In the article, the author describes the phenomenon of Japanese palace meals in the 9th to 12th centuries. Therefore, based on this analysis, he presents a reconstruction of the lifestyle of Japanese court society.

Lisle Spouses: Business Partners or «Loving Friends»?

The article discusses the relationship of spouses in the early Tudors aristocratic family. The material from the correspondence of Lady Honour Lisle and Sir Arthur, Viscount Lisle, reveals topics that were discussed between spouses. These are business issues related to the financial situation of the family, news about family members, acquaintances and court life, exchange of gifts. The letters also show the feelings that the Lisle spouses had for each other. The author concludes that, despite differences in origin, behavior and characters, the Lord and Lady Lisle were not only business partners, but their relationships was based on respect, sincere affection, and, possibly, love.

Influence or Silence? Once more on the role of Sophia Paleologos in the court life Ivan III and the question of her participation in the invitation of Italian masters to Moscow

В данной статье рассмотрен вопрос об участии Софьи Палеолог в деле приглашения итальянских мастеров на русскую службу в последней четверти XV в. Этот сюжет раскрыт в контексте более широкой проблемы — степени и возможности участия великой княгини в придворной жизни Москвы в целом. Обращая внимание на бытующие в науке стереотипы и ошибочные и/или не доказанные (пусть и привычные) суждения, автор стремится разграничить образ Софьи как символической фигуры и реальные свидетельства о ее деятельности. Кроме того, с целью обнаружения реальных возможностей участия Софьи в жизни московского двора рассмотрен вопрос об особенностях воспитания Софьи в Риме: могли ли Софье в Риме преподавать риторику – искусство убеждать, необходимое для активной политической позиции? На основании накопленного в науке опыта автор полагает, что Софья активной позиции не занимала, хотя и была значимым для московского двора символом, пусть и по-разному воспринимаемым разными придворными группами (сторонниками и противниками курса Ивана III, греками-эмигрантами, итальянскими мастерами и др.). Автор приходит к выводу о том, что роль Софьи Палеолог в приглашении мастеров не стоит преувеличивать: по всей видимости, вплоть до династического кризиса рубежа XV-XVI вв. Софья не имела существенного влияния при московском дворе. The article examines the issue of Sofia Palaiologina in the invitation of Italian masters to Russian service in the last quarter of the 15th century. This issue is examined through a broader problematic context – the limits to which a Grand Princess could take part in Moscow’s court life. Paying due attention to the stereotypes, mistaken and/or unproven conclusions dwelling in the academic discourse, the author seeks to separate the image of Sofia Palaiologina as a symbolic figure with the actual surviving evidence of her activity. Alongside the goal of establishing the actual evidence of Sofia’s participation in Moscow court life, the author also seeks to examine the issue of Sofia’s education in Rome: during the years spent in Rome, could Sofia have studied rhetoric – an art vital for an active political position? On the basis of the existing corpus of research, the author comes to the conclusion that Sofia Paleologina did not occupy an active position, even though she remained an important symbol for Moscow’s Court, a symbol that was perceived quite differently by various court groups (proponents and opponents of Ivan III’s political course, Greek immigrants, Italian masters, etc.). The author comes to the conclusion that the role of Sofia Palaiologina should not be exaggerated: it seems that Sofia did wield sufficient influence at court, until the dynastic crisis that erupted on the brink of 15th—16th centuries.

Places and Spaces

This chapter studies royal residences, reactions to various landscapes, and ceremonial practices that formed part of royal itineration. King John and his court travelled constantly, meaning that court life was not centred on a small number of palaces but on multiple castles, palaces, and other residences. Until recently, work on medieval royal residences focused largely on castles and their military functions, but now scholars are studying domestic aspects, including in castles, and the designed landscapes that surrounded castles and palaces. This chapter applies the new approach to John’s reign. In particular, it studies attitudes towards landscapes, both designed landscapes and the less heavily manipulated environments in which the court hunted. Because of the king’s travels, the court spent much time on the road, and the chapter also studies certain associated ceremonies, such as processions to greet the king and formal entries into important towns, also known as the adventus.

Luxury and Material Culture at Court

Material goods, above all luxuries, abounded at court. This chapter describes some key luxury goods at court, including precious textiles, gold and silver plate, and jewellery, and analyses their importance. Precious goods, above all the heavily symbolic royal regalia, underscored royal power. A luxurious material culture emphasized both unity and hierarchy at court. Gifts of precious items helped the king build loyalty and enhanced his reputation for generosity. Yet pleasure too was crucial to the love of luxury at court. People made up the court but the influence of objects on shaping court life should not be underestimated.