L'INCORONAZIONE IMPERIALE NEL MONDO BIZANTINO. TESTIMONIANZE STORICHE, ARTISTICHE E NUMISMATICHE

The research deals with the study of the iconographical theme of the divine coronation of the Byzantine Emperor, with particular attention to the luxury art and numismatics of the middle period. The subject represents the translation, in figurative terms, of the political ideas about the celestial origins of kingship. This concept, widespread in the Byzantine sources, reveals an ancient and far tradition: the first chapter is dedicated, in fact, to the Persian and Hellenistic cultural and artistic experiences which influenced the further thought of Constantinople. The second one concerns the early developments in the Byzantine ideology with attention to the period from the foundation of the Capital in 324 to the beginning of the 9th century, and the iconographic premises for the creation of the subject. The third and the fourth chapters deal with the codification of the image during the middle Byzantine period; the last section is dedicated to the review of the main research results with a brief summary of the developments during the last Byzantine age and a further remote fascination which still survives in the oriental tradition. The main aim of the research is the complete sampling of the known art works which present the figurative motif and the examination of all the possible variants, with particular attention to the historical context and implications between image and patronage. Another important aspect is the survey of the Byzantine coronation ceremony and the study of the possible relations with the art production.