| Series |
Oxford studies in medieval European history
Oxford studies in medieval European history. ^A1334126
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| Contents |
Introduction : Graphic signs, graphic visualization, and early graphicacy -- Graphic signs of authority and political culture -- Graphic signs of authority: historiographic trends -- Cultural history of graphic signs of authority -- Graphic signs of divine authority in late antiquity. The origins of early Christian graphic signs. The nomina sacra, Staurogram, and Chi-Rho -- Early Christian authors on symbolic meanings of letters and Christian graphic signs -- Protective seals and the Bruce Codex -- "Magical" characters and their early Christian critics -- Apotropaic graphic devices as a symptomatic feature of late antique culture -- Christograms as signs of authority in the late Roman empire. Lactantius and Constantine I's victorious sign in 312 -- Eusebius and the appropriation of the Chi-Rho as an imperial triumphant symbol in the 320-40s -- The hierarchy of Christian signs in the visual communication of imperial authority in the second half of the fourth and early fifth centuries -- Christograms as paradigmatic Christian symbols at the turn of the fifth century -- The sign of the cross in late antiquity. The early symbolism of the cross and the origins of the cult of the Holy Cross -- The Sign of the Cross as a late antique symbol of authority -- The apotropaic power of the Sign of the Cross in late antiquity -- Monogrammatic culture in late antiquity. Monograms, early Christians, and late antique culture. Late antique epigraphic culture and monograms as epigraphic devices -- The Calendar of 354 and fourth-century Roman aristocratic culture -- Monograms as protective and intercessory devices -- The contemplative process involved in understanding monograms and late antique neoplatonism -- Secular monograms, social status, and authority in the late Roman world and early Byzantium. The numismatic monogram of Theodosius II: monograms as signs of imperial authority in the middle and second half of the fifth century -- Monograms as signs of authority on silverware, weights, bricks, and consular diptychs -- Monograms as visual signs of social power, noble identity, and elevated status: rings, dress accessories, and luxury objects -- Monograms as a symptomatic feature of late antique paideia -- Public monuments and the monogrammatic display of authority in the post-Roman world. From consular diptychs to the monumental display of authority: Juliana Aniana and St Polyeuktos (c.506-27) -- Justinian I, Theodora, and a defensive response: Sts Sergius and Bacchus (c.527-32) -- The monogrammatic display of imperial authority in Hagia Sophia (532-7) -- Monumental monograms and early medieval bishops -- Graphic signs of authority in early medieval Europe. Monogrammatic culture in pre-Carolingian Europe. Monograms as royal signs of authority -- Monograms as signs of social status and Episcopal authority in pre-Carolingian Europe -- Invocational graphic devices in pre-Carolingian material and manuscript culture -- Christograms and the Sign of the Cross in pre-Carolingian material and manuscript culture -- Late antique monogrammatic culture and the origins of monogrammatic lettering -- Monogrammatic revival in the Carolingian world. Monogrammatic initials in Carolingian Gospel-books and sacramentaries -- Royal, Episcopal, Papal monograms as signs of authority in the Carolingian world -- A monogrammatic revival in Carolingian manuscript culture and De inventione litterarum -- The power of the cross and cruciform devices in the Carolingian world. The Bible of San Paolo fuori le mura and cruciform invocations in Carolingian religious manuscripts -- The Sign of the Cross in manuscript and material culture -- Hrabanus Marus' In honorem sanctae crucis: the Sign of the Cross as the main organizing principle of Carolingian graphicacy -- Conclusion. |
| Abstract |
Graphic Signs Of Authority in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages' presents a cultural history of graphic signs and examines how they were employed to communicate secular and divine authority in the late antique Mediterranean and early medieval Europe. Visual materials such as the sign of the cross, christograms, monograms, and other such devices, are examined against the backdrop of the cultural, religious, and socio-political transition from the late Graeco-Roman world to that of medieval Europe. This monograph is a synthetic study of graphic visual evidence from a wide range of material media that have rarely been studied collectively, including various mass-produced items and unique objects of art, architectural monuments and epigraphic inscriptions, as well as manuscripts and charters. This study promises to provide a timely reference tool for historians, art historians, archaeologists, epigraphists, manuscript scholars, and numismatists. Publisher's description. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 321-358) and indexes. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2017957357 |
| ISBN | 9780198815013 (hardback) |
| ISBN | 0198815018 (hardback) |
