Folio 80v describing and showing the demise of Michael III. Pic 80va shows a mock proclamation of oarsman Basilikinos as emperor by enthroned Michael III. Pic 80vb shows the plotting and murder of Michael in 3 scenes. Text: John Skylitzes, Synopsis historion (CFHB, Berlin, 1973) ed. I. Thurn, pp. Picture: Copyright Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid.

The Madrid Skylitzes (Biblioteca Nacional, vitr.26-2) is a twelfth-century illustrated version of John Skylitzes' chronicle the Synopsis Historion, which covers the Byzantine Empire throughout the years 811-1057.

It is the only surviving illustrated manuscript of a Greek chronicle. 574 images picture every aspect of Byzantine life, including boats, sieges, literary practices, dreams, ceremonies and Siamese twins. It poses complex questions of visual and textual narrative and literacy.

As a Greek work copied in Norman Sicily the manuscript raises issues of the multicultural nature of Sicily in the twelfth century as well as issues of perception, reception and understanding. This rich source is the focus of a major international project run by the Centre which aims to publish a multimedia version including text, translation and commentary. The commentary will be on the text, the illustrations and what is illustrated, the captions, and the narrative as a whole.

A comprehensive database of the images and their content (e.g. iconographical features, colour, and style) is being developed by Dr. Bente Bjornholt, Research Fellow in the History of Art for the Centre at Sussex. Once complete, the database is intended for public use.

Associate Professor Roger Scott at the University of Melbourne in Australia manages the textual aspects of the manuscript, in collaboration with John Burke (Melbourne) and Professor John Wortley (University of Manitoba).

Events:

21-22 September 2002: Colloquium at the Institute of Byzantine Studies, Queen's University of Belfast.

12-15 July 2004, 'The cultures and contexts of the Madrid Skylitzes', International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds, UK.

15 August 2004, Byzantine Narrative. XIVth Conference of the Australian Association for Byzantine Studies, Melbourne

21-26 August 2006, 21st International Congress of Byzantine Studies, London.

Contact: Bente Bjornholt, Roger Scott r.scott@unimelb.edu.au, John Burke j.burke@unimelb.edu.au

Folio 80v describing and showing the demise of Michael III. Pic 80va shows a mock proclamation of oarsman Basilikinos as emperor by enthroned Michael III. Pic 80vb shows the plotting and murder of Michael in 3 scenes. Text: John Skylitzes, Synopsis historion (CFHB, Berlin, 1973) ed. I. Thurn, pp. Picture: Copyright Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid.