The World of Kosmas
Illustrated Byzantine Codices of the Christian Topography

New study of the Christian Topography, a sixth-century illustrated treatise, and its intellectual milieu.

Maja Kominko (Author)

9781108816373, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 May 2020

423 pages, 201 b/w illus. 33 colour illus. 1 map 1 table
17 x 24.5 x 2 cm, 0.74 kg

The Christian Topography is the only extant Greek treatise both written and illustrated in the sixth century, although known only through later copies. Taking inspiration from East Syrian exegesis, the treatise transforms the heritage of classical cosmography into a new, Christian image of the universe. Because images are an inherent part of the argument, the Christian Topography offers a unique insight into how the relationship between word and image was constructed and how the potential of these two media was understood. Until now, however, the text and illustrations have almost always been discussed separately. Consequently the unity of the work has been disrupted and our understanding of the treatise distorted. Taking into consideration both the text and the miniatures, this book seeks to further our understanding of the Christian Topography and its intellectual milieu, and to clarify the role of the images in late antique polemics.

Introduction
1. The author and the context of the creation of the Christian Topography
2. Miniatures of book II: what Kosmas saw and what he read
3. Miniatures of book IV – the cosmos of Kosmas
4. Book V: the universe revealed
5. Miniatures of books VI-IX
6. The image of God, the image of the whole world
Codicological description of manuscripts.

Subject Areas: Publishing industry & book trade [KNTP], Church history [HRCC2], Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], European history [HBJD]