The Byzantine Legacy
@thebyzantinelegacy.bsky.social
Art, architecture, and history from Late Antique, Early Christian, and the Byzantine eras
Southern wall of San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica) by the Porphyry Tetrarchs and Porta della Carta, the entrance of the Doge's Palace in Venice
November 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Southern wall of San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica) by the Porphyry Tetrarchs and Porta della Carta, the entrance of the Doge's Palace in Venice
Macellum of Durrës (historic Dyrrachium) was a circular market probably built by Anastasios I (491-518), who was born there. The podium at its center likely had a statue of Anastasios I. Solidus [gold coin] of Anastasios I from Dumbarton Oaks added to the final image.
November 12, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Macellum of Durrës (historic Dyrrachium) was a circular market probably built by Anastasios I (491-518), who was born there. The podium at its center likely had a statue of Anastasios I. Solidus [gold coin] of Anastasios I from Dumbarton Oaks added to the final image.
Icon with Christ and St. Menas
From 8th-century Egypt
Now at the Louvre
Today is the feast day of St. Menas of Egypt
From 8th-century Egypt
Now at the Louvre
Today is the feast day of St. Menas of Egypt
November 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Icon with Christ and St. Menas
From 8th-century Egypt
Now at the Louvre
Today is the feast day of St. Menas of Egypt
From 8th-century Egypt
Now at the Louvre
Today is the feast day of St. Menas of Egypt
Lentiana, a fortified site mentioned in Byzantine sources, is likely the castle ruins near Tophisar in Bursa Province (in historic Mysia/Hellespont)
November 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Lentiana, a fortified site mentioned in Byzantine sources, is likely the castle ruins near Tophisar in Bursa Province (in historic Mysia/Hellespont)
Lake Basilica and its tombs at İznik/historic Nicaea
In 2014, a Late Antique basilica church was discovered submerged underwater in İznik Lake. The church was located outside the walls of Nicaea, south of its lake harbor.
Photos from yesterday’s visit (and image Google Maps)
In 2014, a Late Antique basilica church was discovered submerged underwater in İznik Lake. The church was located outside the walls of Nicaea, south of its lake harbor.
Photos from yesterday’s visit (and image Google Maps)
November 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Lake Basilica and its tombs at İznik/historic Nicaea
In 2014, a Late Antique basilica church was discovered submerged underwater in İznik Lake. The church was located outside the walls of Nicaea, south of its lake harbor.
Photos from yesterday’s visit (and image Google Maps)
In 2014, a Late Antique basilica church was discovered submerged underwater in İznik Lake. The church was located outside the walls of Nicaea, south of its lake harbor.
Photos from yesterday’s visit (and image Google Maps)
"Vue de Sainte-Irène"
Photo of Hagia Eirene from the roof of Hagia Sophia by Albert Gabriel (before 1934)
From POP (la plateforme ouverte du patrimoine)/Ministère de la Culture France
Photo of Hagia Eirene from the roof of Hagia Sophia by Albert Gabriel (before 1934)
From POP (la plateforme ouverte du patrimoine)/Ministère de la Culture France
November 7, 2025 at 4:26 PM
"Vue de Sainte-Irène"
Photo of Hagia Eirene from the roof of Hagia Sophia by Albert Gabriel (before 1934)
From POP (la plateforme ouverte du patrimoine)/Ministère de la Culture France
Photo of Hagia Eirene from the roof of Hagia Sophia by Albert Gabriel (before 1934)
From POP (la plateforme ouverte du patrimoine)/Ministère de la Culture France
The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus (Tekfur Sarayı) likely played an important role in the Civil War of 1341-1347 that began when John VI Kantakouzenos failed to secure the regency for John V after the death of his father Andronikos III in 1341.
November 6, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus (Tekfur Sarayı) likely played an important role in the Civil War of 1341-1347 that began when John VI Kantakouzenos failed to secure the regency for John V after the death of his father Andronikos III in 1341.
Pendant of Empress Maria (c. 400) at the Louvre
Maria was the wife of Emperor Honorius, daughter of the patrician Stilicho and of Serena, niece of Theodosius I, and sister of Eucherius and Thermantia
Latin inscription: "Stelicho, Serena, Honori, Maria, vivatis in Deo [live in God]"
Maria was the wife of Emperor Honorius, daughter of the patrician Stilicho and of Serena, niece of Theodosius I, and sister of Eucherius and Thermantia
Latin inscription: "Stelicho, Serena, Honori, Maria, vivatis in Deo [live in God]"
November 5, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Pendant of Empress Maria (c. 400) at the Louvre
Maria was the wife of Emperor Honorius, daughter of the patrician Stilicho and of Serena, niece of Theodosius I, and sister of Eucherius and Thermantia
Latin inscription: "Stelicho, Serena, Honori, Maria, vivatis in Deo [live in God]"
Maria was the wife of Emperor Honorius, daughter of the patrician Stilicho and of Serena, niece of Theodosius I, and sister of Eucherius and Thermantia
Latin inscription: "Stelicho, Serena, Honori, Maria, vivatis in Deo [live in God]"
Castle at Şile (historic Chele)
When Andronikos I Komnenos blinded the young Alexios, son of Manuel Komnenos, he banished him to the fortified Chele in 1183. According to historian Choniates, Andronikos had a tower specifically built here as a place of exile.
When Andronikos I Komnenos blinded the young Alexios, son of Manuel Komnenos, he banished him to the fortified Chele in 1183. According to historian Choniates, Andronikos had a tower specifically built here as a place of exile.
November 4, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Castle at Şile (historic Chele)
When Andronikos I Komnenos blinded the young Alexios, son of Manuel Komnenos, he banished him to the fortified Chele in 1183. According to historian Choniates, Andronikos had a tower specifically built here as a place of exile.
When Andronikos I Komnenos blinded the young Alexios, son of Manuel Komnenos, he banished him to the fortified Chele in 1183. According to historian Choniates, Andronikos had a tower specifically built here as a place of exile.
Figurative mosaics in Hagia Sophia continued to be visible following the Ottoman Conquest of 1453, as seen in numerous visitor accounts. Christ in the dome was certainly visible throughout the 16th century, though it is uncertain exactly when it was covered.
November 3, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Figurative mosaics in Hagia Sophia continued to be visible following the Ottoman Conquest of 1453, as seen in numerous visitor accounts. Christ in the dome was certainly visible throughout the 16th century, though it is uncertain exactly when it was covered.
Porphyry Tetrarchs at Venice
The statue group of the Tetrarchs was perhaps first set up in Nicomedia. It was then moved to the Philadelphion in Constantinople, where they were later interpreted as the sons of Constantine. The group came to Venice with other loot from the Fourth Crusade of 1204.
The statue group of the Tetrarchs was perhaps first set up in Nicomedia. It was then moved to the Philadelphion in Constantinople, where they were later interpreted as the sons of Constantine. The group came to Venice with other loot from the Fourth Crusade of 1204.
November 1, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Porphyry Tetrarchs at Venice
The statue group of the Tetrarchs was perhaps first set up in Nicomedia. It was then moved to the Philadelphion in Constantinople, where they were later interpreted as the sons of Constantine. The group came to Venice with other loot from the Fourth Crusade of 1204.
The statue group of the Tetrarchs was perhaps first set up in Nicomedia. It was then moved to the Philadelphion in Constantinople, where they were later interpreted as the sons of Constantine. The group came to Venice with other loot from the Fourth Crusade of 1204.
Horned tiger griffin eating a lizard at Great Palace Mosaic Museum
October 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Horned tiger griffin eating a lizard at Great Palace Mosaic Museum
The Long Wall of Thrace (Anastasian Wall)
youtu.be/BnRxZNN5eQA
youtu.be/BnRxZNN5eQA
The Long Wall of Thrace (Anastasian Wall)
YouTube video by The Byzantine Legacy
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The Long Wall of Thrace (Anastasian Wall)
youtu.be/BnRxZNN5eQA
youtu.be/BnRxZNN5eQA
Colossus of Constantine at the Capitoline Museums comes from the Basilica of Maxentius, which was finished by Constantine after he defeated Maxentius in 312.
October 28, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Colossus of Constantine at the Capitoline Museums comes from the Basilica of Maxentius, which was finished by Constantine after he defeated Maxentius in 312.
Children thanking St. Demetrios, St. Demetrios with an angel, St. Demetrios with church patrons at the Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki
Today is the feast day of St. Demetrios
Today is the feast day of St. Demetrios
October 26, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Children thanking St. Demetrios, St. Demetrios with an angel, St. Demetrios with church patrons at the Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki
Today is the feast day of St. Demetrios
Today is the feast day of St. Demetrios
Transfiguration of Christ, Anastasis (Resurrection), and fragmentary Christ Pantokrator and the Prophets in the dome of the early 14th-century Church of the Holy Apostles in Thessaloniki
October 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Transfiguration of Christ, Anastasis (Resurrection), and fragmentary Christ Pantokrator and the Prophets in the dome of the early 14th-century Church of the Holy Apostles in Thessaloniki
“The Mosque of St. Sophia” by Alexandre V. Pankoff (1924-1928)
From past exhibition at Istanbul Research Institute
From past exhibition at Istanbul Research Institute
October 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
“The Mosque of St. Sophia” by Alexandre V. Pankoff (1924-1928)
From past exhibition at Istanbul Research Institute
From past exhibition at Istanbul Research Institute
The 4th-century Column of Constantine is next to 17th-c. Köprülü Mehmet Pasha Mosque and the 16th-c. Çemberlitaş Hamam, all of which are located on the Mese/Divanyolu, the main street of Byzantine Constantinople and Ottoman Kostantiniyye
Photo from Barın Han taken today
Photo from Barın Han taken today
October 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The 4th-century Column of Constantine is next to 17th-c. Köprülü Mehmet Pasha Mosque and the 16th-c. Çemberlitaş Hamam, all of which are located on the Mese/Divanyolu, the main street of Byzantine Constantinople and Ottoman Kostantiniyye
Photo from Barın Han taken today
Photo from Barın Han taken today
Tomb of Late Byzantine aristocrats from the parekklesion (funerary chapel) of Chora/Kariye Camii
The woman with a crown is wearing a dress with monograms of the Palaiologos and Asen families.
The woman with a crown is wearing a dress with monograms of the Palaiologos and Asen families.
October 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Tomb of Late Byzantine aristocrats from the parekklesion (funerary chapel) of Chora/Kariye Camii
The woman with a crown is wearing a dress with monograms of the Palaiologos and Asen families.
The woman with a crown is wearing a dress with monograms of the Palaiologos and Asen families.
Cistern of Aetius/Karagümrük Stadium
This huge open-air water reservoir was built by Aetius, the urban prefect of Constantinople, around 420. It functioned as “sunken” garden when it was no longer used to store water. It became a football (soccer) field in the 20th century.
This huge open-air water reservoir was built by Aetius, the urban prefect of Constantinople, around 420. It functioned as “sunken” garden when it was no longer used to store water. It became a football (soccer) field in the 20th century.
October 21, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Cistern of Aetius/Karagümrük Stadium
This huge open-air water reservoir was built by Aetius, the urban prefect of Constantinople, around 420. It functioned as “sunken” garden when it was no longer used to store water. It became a football (soccer) field in the 20th century.
This huge open-air water reservoir was built by Aetius, the urban prefect of Constantinople, around 420. It functioned as “sunken” garden when it was no longer used to store water. It became a football (soccer) field in the 20th century.
Rotunda of Thessaloniki
Charles Texier (1864)
Charles Texier (1864)
October 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Rotunda of Thessaloniki
Charles Texier (1864)
Charles Texier (1864)
Diptych of Stilicho, Vandal general (magister militum) who was elected consul in 400 under Western Roman Emperor Honorius; Stilicho is depicted with his wife Serena and their son Eucherius.
At Museo e tesoro del duomo di Monza (Cathedral of Monza)
At Museo e tesoro del duomo di Monza (Cathedral of Monza)
October 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Diptych of Stilicho, Vandal general (magister militum) who was elected consul in 400 under Western Roman Emperor Honorius; Stilicho is depicted with his wife Serena and their son Eucherius.
At Museo e tesoro del duomo di Monza (Cathedral of Monza)
At Museo e tesoro del duomo di Monza (Cathedral of Monza)
Hagia Sophia, Hagia Eirene and the Marmara Sea Walls after sunset
October 17, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Hagia Sophia, Hagia Eirene and the Marmara Sea Walls after sunset
"Vue de Pera, Galata et... Constantinople" Dessonville (1721)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Bibliothèque nationale de France
October 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
"Vue de Pera, Galata et... Constantinople" Dessonville (1721)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Bibliothèque nationale de France