The World of Kosmas

Erscheinungsjahr 2020
ISBN: 978-1-108-81637-3
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 423 Seiten, Format (B × H): 168 mm x 245 mm, Gewicht: 681 g

The Christian Topography is the only extant Greek treatise both written and illustrated in the sixth century, although known only through later copies. Taking inspiration from East Syrian exegesis, the treatise transforms the heritage of classical cosmography into a new, Christian image of the universe. Because images are an inherent part of the argument, the Christian Topography offers a unique insight into how the relationship between word and image was constructed and how the potential of these two media was understood. Until now, however, the text and illustrations have almost always been discussed separately. Consequently the unity of the work has been disrupted and our understanding of the treatise distorted. Taking into consideration both the text and the miniatures, this book seeks to further our understanding of the Christian Topography and its intellectual milieu, and to clarify the role of the images in late antique polemics.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kominko, Maja

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Kirchengeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie Vor- und Frühgeschichte, prähistorische Archäologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Europäische Länder
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtswissenschaft Allgemein
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftssektoren & Branchen Medien-, Informations und Kommunikationswirtschaft Verlagswesen
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Europäische Geschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction; 1. The author and the context of the creation of the Christian Topography; 2. Miniatures of book II: what Kosmas saw and what he read; 3. Miniatures of book IV – the cosmos of Kosmas; 4. Book V: the universe revealed; 5. Miniatures of books VI-IX; 6. The image of God, the image of the whole world; Codicological description of manuscripts.

Über Autor(innen)

Kominko, Maja
Maja Kominko manages the cultural portfolio of the Arcadia Fund, a foundation working for endangered culture and nature. She has studied, taught and researched at universities in Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the United States and Sweden. Her published articles cover a range of subjects from late antique intellectual history, art history and cartography, to cultural exchange in medieval period in Levant, particularly as documented in illustrated Syriac manuscripts.