Between the Pagan Past and Christian Present in Byzantine Visual Culture: Statues in Constantinople, 4th-13th Centuries CE

Paroma Chatterjee's book explores the significance of pagan statues in Byzantine visual culture, arguing that they were admired for their longevity, mimesis, and prophecy. She suggests that the statues were outside of imperial control and endowed with an enduring charisma, rivaling that of holy icons. Chatterjee's interpretations refine our conceptions of imperial imagery, the Hippodrome, the Macedonian Renaissance, secular objects, and Orthodox icons.

Format: Hardback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 06 January 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Before the pillage by the Crusaders in 1204, Constantinople was a treasure trove of magnificent statues, depicting emperors, pagan gods, and mythical creatures. However, the significance of this vast collection of public sculpture has been largely overlooked in the annals of history. In her groundbreaking book, Paroma Chatterjee presents a fresh perspective on the topic, contending that pagan statues played a vital role in Byzantine visual culture. Through a meticulous examination of evidence found in patriographies, chronicles, novels, and epigrams, she demonstrates that these statues were admired for three distinct qualities: longevity, mimesis, and prophecy. These attributes placed them beyond the control of the imperial authorities and endowed them with an enduring charisma that sometimes rivaled that of holy icons.

Chatterjee's interpretations shed new light on our understanding of imperial imagery, the Hippodrome, the Macedonian Renaissance, a corpus of secular objects, and Orthodox icons. Her book offers novel insights into Iconoclasm and proposes a more truncated trajectory of the holy icon in medieval Orthodoxy than has previously been acknowledged. By delving into the lesser-known aspects of Byzantine art and culture, Chatterjee has enriched our understanding of this fascinating period and contributed to a more comprehensive appreciation of the rich artistic heritage of the Middle Ages.

Weight: 736g
Dimension: 185 x 261 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108833585