CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2014
| Author | Demirtiken, Elif |
|---|---|
| Title | Mapping the Meaning: Monastic Topography of Constantinople, 1081-1204 and 1261-1328 |
| Summary | The thesis focuses on the monastic patronage of the members of the imperial family and aristocracy in Constantinople in two distinct periods: 1081-1204 and 1261-1328. It started with the idea that a city is much more than a cluster of buildings and cityscape is a social construct, in which not only tangible imprints of patrons, i.e. the buildings, but also their intangible manifestations of power can be observed. In this study, I depart from the assumption that monastic patronage represents the most tangible part of the power spectrum, and through a cross-reading of the patron’s rank and kinship networks, it is possible to reach the most abstract end of the power spectrum, struggle to gain prestige and visibility. In the first two chapters, the monastic topography of Constantinople during each period is investigated with its own dynamics in order to understand the reasons and motivations of a founder to commission a monastery and to choose the site for his or her pious foundation. Last chapter takes a comparative approach and evaluates the outcomes of marriage alliances and kinship groups in both periods as reflected on the monastic topography of the capital. |
| Supervisor | Gaul, Niels |
| Department | Medieval Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2014/demirtiken_elif.pdf |
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