Emperor and Priest: The Imperial Office in Byzantium (Past and Present Publications) [Hardcover]

Gilbert Dagron (Author), Jean Birrell (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521801230 | ISBN-13: 978-0521801232 | Publication Date: November 24, 2003

The figure of the Byzantine emperor, a ruler who sometimes was also designated a priest, has long fascinated the western imagination. Written by one of the world's leading Byzantine scholars, this classic book studies in detail the imperial union of "two powers," temporal and spiritual, against the broad background of the relationship between church and state and religious and political spheres.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Andreas Schminck reviewed Dagron's Empereur et pre^tre in Byzantinische Zeitschrift 93, 2000, 197-204. In this review, he expressed his hope that the work would be translated into other languages, and become thus available to a wider readership. It seems to this reviewer that Emperor and Priest splendidly fulfills this wish." -Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Book Description

The figure of the Byzantine emperor, a ruler who sometimes was also designated a priest, has long fascinated the western imagination. This classic book, by one of the world's leading Byzantine scholars, studies in detail the imperial union of 'two powers', temporal and spiritual, against a wide background of relations between church and state and religious and political spheres.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 354 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (November 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521801230
• ISBN-13: 978-0521801232
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,464,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful look into the Imperial Court., March 17, 2007

By 

Ryan Kelton "wannabe changeling" (California, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Emperor and Priest: The Imperial Office in Byzantium (Past and Present Publications) (Hardcover)

There are, regrettably, few books that touch upon the intricacies of the Byzantine Imperial Court, that pinnacle of splendor that awed emissaries from all four corners. Fortunately however, the books that we do have certainly do a terrific job at detailing the particulars of the system. Gilbert Dagron's book touches especially upon the Imperial Office of Byzantium, and does a spectacular job at doing so, explaining the odd concept of 'caesaropapism' that to Enlightenment scholars defined the Byzantine court. He writes detailed descriptions of imperial ceremony, and gives wonderful accounts of the evolution of the imperial concept from Constantine the Great onwards. Included is a gorgeous diagram of the Imperial palace, which is reason to buy this book. Certainly a necessity for any serious Byzantophile.

5.0 out of 5 stars Important, somewhat dry., October 6, 2010

By 

C. E. R. Mendonça "Carlos Eduardo Rebello de ... (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Emperor and Priest: The Imperial Office in Byzantium (Past and Present Publications) (Paperback)

This book is wonderful history, only it is not for the general reader. The author has mede no attempt to familiarize readers first with the specific terminology of the Byzantine court, therefore one has to read it by feeling somewhat befuddled, as terms are only explained in a (somewhat awkard end) glossary. The translation is good, but somewhat (and unavoidably) stiff, and I suspect the book would read better in its original French.