Madrid Skylitzes

Madrid Skylitzes

File:Skylitzes. Basil II vs Georgians.jpg Scene from the Battle of Shirimni; the army of Basil II defeating George I of Georgia
Author	John Skylitzes
Original title	Σύνοψις Ἱστοριῶν
Language	Medieval Greek
Genre	Historiography
Publication date	12th century

The Madrid Skylitzes is a 12th-century illuminated manuscript version of the Synopsis of Histories (Greek: Σύνοψις Ἱστοριῶν) by John Skylitzes, which covers the reigns of the Byzantine emperors from the death of Nicephorus I in 811 to the deposition of Michael VI in 1057. The manuscript was produced at the Norman court of Palermo in Sicily (although there is some debate on whether the main body was made in Palermo or Constantinople) and is now housed in the Biblioteca Nacional de España in Madrid. It remains the only preserved Greek-language illustrated chronicle from the Byzantine period. The chronicle includes 574 miniatures detailing depictions of everyday life in the Byzantine Empire such as boats, literary practices, sieges, and ceremonies, in "both purely Byzantine and Western styles while also reflecting Islamic elements".

Images

Illustrations from Madrid Skylitzes

• a. Leo VI with a Bulgarian delegation, b. The Battle of Boulgarophygon
  a. Leo VI with a Bulgarian delegation
  b. The Battle of Boulgarophygon
• Thomas the Slav seeks refuge with the Arabs
  Thomas the Slav seeks refuge with the Arabs
• a. Thomas the Slav negotiates with the Saracens, b. Thomas's troops defeat the Imperial army
  a. Thomas the Slav negotiates with the Saracens
  b. Thomas's troops defeat the Imperial army
• a. The assassination of Bardas at the feet of Michael III (865-866), b. Return of the army and coronation of Basil I as co-regent
  a. The assassination of Bardas at the feet of Michael III (865-866)
  b. Return of the army and coronation of Basil I as co-regent
• Depiction of Greek fire in the Madrid Skylitzes
  Depiction of Greek fire in the Madrid Skylitzes
• Depiction of the baptism of Boris I of Bulgaria
  Depiction of the baptism of Boris I of Bulgaria
• Meeting between Emperor John Tzimiskes and Sviatoslav I of Kiev
  Meeting between Emperor John Tzimiskes and Sviatoslav I of Kiev
• Serbs attack the Byzantines in the mountain passes at the Battle of Bar
  Serbs attack the Byzantines in the mountain passes at the Battle of Bar

Bibliography

• Color facsimile edition by Militos (Μίλητος) Publishers, .
• Tsamakda, Vasiliki (2002). The Illustrated Chronicle of Ioannes Skylitzes, Leiden.
• Bjørnholt, Bente and J. Burke, eds. (2005). "The Cultures and Contexts of the Madrid Skylitzes". International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds

External links

• Biography of Basil II with notes on Scylitzes by Catherine Holmes
• World Digital Library page, and PDF download of the Madrid Skylitzes
• Hispanic Digital Library page, and PDF download of the Madrid Skylitzes