| A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from History's Most Orthodox Empire Contributor(s): Kaldellis, Anthony (Author) |
|
 |
ISBN: 0190625945 ISBN-13: 9780190625948 Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA OUR PRICE: $18.89 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: October 2017 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Byzantine Empire - History | Ancient - Rome |
| Dewey: 949.502 |
| LCCN: 2017018263 |
| Physical Information: 1" H x 5.4" W x 8.3" (0.85 lbs) 248 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - Medieval (500-1453) |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Weird, decadent, degenerate, racially mixed, superstitious, theocratic, effeminate, and even hyper-literate, Byzantium has long been regarded by many as one big curiosity. According to Voltaire, it represented a worthless collection of miracles, a disgrace for the human mind; for Hegel, it was a disgusting picture of imbecility. A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities will churn up these old prejudices, while also stimulating a deeper interest among readers in one of history's most interesting civilizations. Many of the zanier tales and trivia that are collected here revolve around the political and religious life of Byzantium. Thus, stories of saints, relics, and their miracles-from the hilarious to the revolting-abound. Byzantine bureaucracy (whence the adjective Byzantine), court scandals, and elaborate penal code are world famous. And what would Byzantium be without its eunuchs, whose ambiguous gender produced odd and risible outcomes in different contexts? The book also contains sections on daily life that are equally eye-opening, including food (from aphrodisiacs to fermented fish sauce), games such as polo and acrobatics, and obnoxious views of foreigners and others (e.g., Germans, Catholics, Arabs, dwarves). But lest we overlook Byzantium's more honorable contributions to civilization, also included are some of the marvels of Byzantine science and technology, from the military (flamethrowers and hand grenades) to the theatrical (elevator thrones, roaring mechanical lions) and medical (catheters and cures, some bizarre). This vast assortment of historical anomaly and absurdity sheds vital light on one of history's most obscure and orthodox empires. |