The Use of Spolia in Byzantine Cisterns
Unfinished and Reused Capitals in Cisterns
In many Byzantine cisterns, archaeologists have discovered a wide range of unfinished column capitals, some damaged and some still...
Reconsidering the Use of Spolia in Byzantine Constantinople
What Is Spolia and Why Was It Used?
In Byzantine Constantinople, the use of spolia—that is, recycled architectural elements from older buildings—became very common. This...
The Turkish Quarter
To reach the Turkish part of the town, you pass through a narrow stone gateway. Kavala is full of steep, rocky stairs—both going up...
Laughing at the Challenge
I laughed, lifted my hat, and urged my horse to run faster, quickly passing by. These mischievous young Turkish women! They would never dare...
Wandering Among the Ruins
For an hour, I walked around the old ruins. I found the remains of Philip's theater on a hillside of the Acropolis. A few...
Since Christians believed
Many aspects of that story pull us into the world of Roman late antiquity: clashing religious practices, legal interference in religion, the brutality of...
Tribunus voluptatum
Somewhere at the bottom of the hierarchical pyramid of government, we find one officer whose role may still inspire some skepticism: the “tribune of...
Edict of Theoderic
For Theoderic belongs to an old, conservative tradition, and if the Edict of Theoderic that comes down to us in 154 short chapters—virtually every...
Constantine dismounted and ascended
The procession having circled the arena, Constantine dismounted and ascended to the first tier of seats where a massive throne chair stood in the...
Retain the title of Augusta
This afternoon, in the audience chamber. I went there to meditate and she came in. We agreed that she will retain the title of...
