Bronze Horseman of Justinian in Constantinople: The Cross-Cultural Biography of a Mediterranean Monument

The Justinian's triumphal column was the tallest free-standing column of the pre-modern world, crowned with the largest metal equestrian sculpture created before 1699. This book analyzes Byzantine, Islamic, Slavic, Crusader, and Renaissance historical accounts, medieval pilgrimages, geographic, apocalyptic and apocryphal narratives, vernacular poetry, Byzantine, Bulgarian, Italian, French, Latin, and Ottoman illustrated manuscripts, Florentine wedding chests, Venetian paintings, and Russian icons to provide an engrossing and pioneering biography of a contested medieval monument during its millennium of life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The pre-modern world's tallest free-standing column, Justinian's triumphal column, was crowned with what is arguably the largest metal equestrian sculpture ever created before 1699. The Byzantine empire's bronze horseman towered over the heart of Constantinople, assuming new identities, spawning conflicting narratives, and acquiring widespread international acclaim. Unfortunately, all traces of Justinian's column were erased from the urban fabric of Istanbul in the sixteenth century, leading to scholars undervaluing its astonishing agency and remarkable longevity. Its impact in visual and verbal culture was arguably among the most extensive of any Mediterranean monument.

This book delves into Byzantine, Islamic, Slavic, Crusader, and Renaissance historical accounts, medieval pilgrimages, geographic, apocalyptic, and apocryphal narratives, vernacular poetry, Byzantine, Bulgarian, Italian, French, Latin, and Ottoman illustrated manuscripts, Florentine wedding chests, Venetian paintings, and Russian icons to provide an engrossing and pioneering biography of a contested medieval monument during the millennium of its life.

Weight: 958g
Dimension: 178 x 250 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781107197275