Byzantine epigrams on icons and objects

Epigrams existed already in Antiquity where they were used as both metrical and non-metrical inscriptional texts. The epigram also flourished in Byzantium where it referred especially to theological issues. A. Kominis was the first to investigate the Byzantine epigram systematically. In 1966 he published his study about the religious Byzantine epigram. In recent years new insights were gained by the research of M. Lauxtermann and H. Maguire; the latter specialised on investigating the interaction between epigrams and objects of art. Besides, also the applicant has been devoting himself in several publications to philological aspects of Byzantine epigrams. Byzantine epigrams are not only transmitted in manuscripts, but are also to be found as inscriptions. The collection of Byzantine inscriptional epigrams, which was initiated by the applicant, consists now of ca. 1200 poems with more than 5500 verses. Epigrams transmitted as inscriptions are to be found on frescos, mosaics, stone, icons, objects of minor art and manuscripts. It is the applicant`s aim to edit, translate and comment on all these epigrams. Most of the work concerning epigrams on frescos and mosaics, which will be published in a first volume, has already been done. This publication will consist of the editions of the Greek texts, the German translations and commentaries. Besides, it will also contain a detailed introduction as well as several indices and tables. Epigrams on icons and objects of minor art, i.e. cross reliquaries, other reliquaries, crosses, ivories, textiles etc., will be published in a second volume. Epigrams on icons are either to be found on the object itself or on its frame. The majority of the objects of minor art with inscriptional epigrams belong to the ecclesiastical sector. Besides, some epigrams have been preserved on secular objects, for example on several swords, on a cup in the National Museum of Skopje, or on a ring which was forwarded as a gift to the daughter of the Epirot ruler Theodoros by the Serbian prince Stefan Radoslav. The final aim of the project is to improve and deepen the knowledge of Byzantine epigrams transmitted on icons and objects of minor art. Several questions concerning metric, language, authorship, prosopography etc. have to be answered. By comparing inscriptional epigrams with epigrams transmitted in manuscripts we will obtain more information about the important position of epigrams within the Byzantine culture. Besides, the project also focuses on the investigation of the omnipresent interaction of word and image in Byzantium. Project Website: http://www.oeaw.ac.at/byzanz/epi.htm

Within research on Byzantine literature, in recent decades increasing attention has been devoted to poetry and particularly to epigrams. Suffice it to mention outstanding scholars like A. Kominis, H. Maguire and Marc Lauxtermann. The project leader too, in a number of publications dealt with this literary genre. Finally he developed the plan to collect and present as completely as possible those epigrams which are still preserved in their original function, viz. as inscriptions. It was the aim of the now closed project, together with its forerunner number P16612, to realize this plan. Today we may observe that we were successful even to a higher degree than originally foreseen. Members of the team were from the beginning A. Rhoby, A. Paul and the project leader. At the beginning, beside collecting material, leading principles and methods had to be developed. The texts had to be presented in the form of a critical edition. A diplomatic transcription was not intended. Yet, unlike the practice usually followed in editions of literary texts, also minor differences and orthographic mistakes were painstakingly noted in the apparatus criticus, and the inscriptions were also documented by photographs. The texts were provided with a German translation and with a commentary where questions of language, metrics, dating, literary tradition and the interrelationship of word and image had to be discussed. The entire material had to be presented in four volumes defined by groups of objects: frescoes and mosaics - icons and minor arts - stone - illuminated manuscripts. Regarding chronology the period from circa 600 to circa 1500 was chosen. At the end of project number P16612 a complete volume could already be presented: A. Rhoby, Byzantinische Epigramme auf Fresken und Mosaiken. Wien 2009. Within project number 20036 it was planned to prepare the volume on icons and objects of minor arts. In the mean time this volume too appeared: A. Rhoby, Byzantinische Epigramme auf Ikonen und Objekten der Kleinkunst. Wien 2010. Due to Rhoby`s change into the staff of the Austrian Academy we were in the lucky position to employ another young scholar and thus enlarge essentially the work. Therefore R. Stefec became member of the team responsible for the epigrams in illuminated manuscripts. Today work on the relevant volume is nearly finished. The most voluminous part, containing the edition of the epigrams together with the commentaries, is now completed, whereas introduction, indices and technical preparation for print will be furnished by R. Stefec without funding from the side of the FWF. When in the near future also the volume on stone epigrams (again by A. Rhoby) is finished, colleagues of various disciplines - philologists, linguists, historians and, last but not least, art historians - will have at their disposition a working tool providing new insights into essential aspects of Byzantine culture. Numerous reactions have confirmed that we are on the right way.