Women of Byzantium [Hardcover]

Carolyn L. Connor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2004

Women played key roles in Byzantine society: some ruled or co-ruled the empire, and others commissioned art and buildings, went on pilgrimages, and wrote. This engrossing book draws on evidence ranging from pictorial mosaics and inscriptions on the walls of churches to women’s poetry and histories, examining for the first time the lives, occupations, beliefs, and social roles of Byzantine women.
In each chapter Carolyn L. Connor introduces us to a single woman—from the elite to the ordinary—and uses her as a springboard to discuss Byzantine society. Frequently quoting from contemporary accounts, Connor reveals what these women thought of themselves and their lives and how they remembered the lives of women who had lived earlier.
Informative, sympathetic, and engagingly written, this book is a window into Byzantine culture and women’s history that has never before been opened.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A splendid achievement. A fascinating exploration of the role and activities of women over centuries of Byzantine history."—John Matthews, Yale University

From the Inside Flap

"Carolyn Connor has written an attractive and accessible book. Drawing on contemporary writing and visual art she introduces us to the whole range of medieval Byzantine women from empresses to nuns and saints. The book reveals some fascinating individual women and the lively and dynamic society to which they belonged." - Averil Cameron, University of Oxford

"A splendid achievement. A fascinating exploration of the role and activities of women over centuries of Byzantine history." - John Matthews, Yale University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (August 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300099576
• ISBN-13: 978-0300099577
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,335,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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