DOI article:
Grotowski, Piotr Ł.: Military Attire of Warrior Saints - a case of Spekion
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20622#0018
3. Juclgement of Salomon, fol. 215v,
Constantinople (879-882). Paris, Bibliotheąue Nationale.
Manuscript of Homilies ofGregory ofNazianzos {Cod. gr. 510)
(after Der Nersessian, o.c)
In the miniaturę the white spekions are a part of the
costume of the imperial entourage standing behind
the throne (fig. 3) and the fresco shows an imperial
triumph where they are worn by the two antecessors
23 Brubaker, o.c., p. 265, fig. 25; Der Nersessian,
o. c., fig. 8; X. MTTaKipręfis,' HBaoiAiKp tou Ayiou Ar]iJT]Tplou,
0eoaaAoviKri 1997, p. 65-67, fig. 35, who recognize emperor
as Justinian II or Basil II during their triumphal entrances to
the church after their victories over Slavs.
24 In the year 907 or 908 some cleric named Ktenas
through the mediation of emperor’s Chamberlain (paroikome-
nos) Samon bought title ofprotospatharios. On the beginning
emperor Leo VI resisted to sell title and yelled only after
inquirer offered forty litrae of gold (1 litra — ca. 319—324 g),
a pair of earrings worth 10 litrae and a silver plaque with
gilded images of animals of the same value, see DAI, vol. 1,
p. 244, v. 35—256[50], vol. 2,p. 194-195; E. Schilbach, By-
zantinische Metrologie, Miinchen 1970, p. 277—278 (Handbuch
der Altertumswissenschaft 12/4); Idem, Byzantinische metrol-
ogische Ouellen, Thessaloniki 1982, p. 14, 72, v. 13—16 [II 6],
74, v. 16-21 [II 71. M. McCormick, Eternal Victory. Trium-
phal Rulership in Late Antiąuity, Byzantium and the Early Me-
dieval West, Cambridge 1986, p. 201, notę 62 quotes a letter
of Saint Theodore Studite (Patrologiae cursus completus, Series
graeca, ed. J. P. Mignę, vol. 99, p. 1569) where author consoles
of spatharios Evdokimos despairing because of his blindness
on foot accompanying a riding emperor (probably
Leo VI the Wise)23.
Although in the mid-Byzantine court the title of
the protospatharios could be purchased by bribery, and
Theodore Studite considered this group as people
depraved and wicked; but yet their rank was still
significant as officials who continued the tradition
of ancient lictors carrying the emperors’ weapon dur-
ing solemn processions and triumphs. Holding this
office was treated as a great honour and that is why
candidates applying for it were willing to pay a con-
siderable amount of money24. Thus, introduction of
the uniform of high rank officers to the iconography
of Warrior Saints became understandable as a means
to illustrate their special position in the celestial
hierarchy as associated immediately with God.
Official yestment was also used to specify two
members of scholia gentilum — saints Sergios and
Bakchos. They are depicted as wearing uniforms of
protospatharioi in mosaics at the Daphni monastery
near Athens (ca. 1100; fig. 4, 5)22. As a matter of
fact, a broad patterned golden badge covering the
shoulders of the white tunic of the saints (especially
Sergios) does not resemble in shape chrysoclavia
but other elements typical of this formation: ma-
niakions26, swords in a scabbard, and particularly
long sticks decoratively pointed with a knob and
yertical edge with three leaves and pearls on the
end — clearly indicate their official position. The
last element called spathobaklion (from spathion — a
sword and Latin baculus, Greek baktron — a stick, a
club) can be interpreted as sign of a Scholia unit27.
could not take a part in imperial processions. Theodore writes
this situation will protect him from contact with similar vil-
lains and scoundrels (i. e. companions of Evdokimos).
25 See P. Lazarides, The Monastery of Daphni, Brief 11-
lustrated Archaeological Guide, Athens s. d., fig. 40—41; E.
Diez, O. Demus, Byzantine Mosaics in Greece, Hosios Lucas &
Daphni, Cambridge Mass. 1981, fig. 68—69-
26 Torque is a very important element of a couple of saints
because it derived from the text of their Passio. Before the were
put to death, their insignia — and especially mentioned in the
text collars were taken away, see J. Van den Gheyn, Passio
antiąuor Ss. Sergii et Bacchi, Analecta Bollandiana 14 (1895),
p. 380. On the history of torc and its representations in the
Byzantine art see Ch. Walter, The MaoiaKiou or Torc By-
zantine Tradition, Revue des Etudes Byzantines 59 (2001), p.
179—192 (reprint in: Idem, The Iconography of Constantine the
Great Emperor and Saint, with Associated Studies, Leiden 2007).
27 About maniakions and swords beeing together with the
spekion an elements of protospatharios’ uniform see Constantini
PorphyrogenitiImperatorisDeCerimoniis..., vol. l,p. 574, v. 2—13:
“TrpcoToaTTaSdpioi scjApaaay Ta śauTcfiy cmyapia Kai paviaKia”,
p. 575, v. 8-9 [II 151: “TrpcoTooTtaBapioi £(f)ópsaav Ta ypuaa
12
Constantinople (879-882). Paris, Bibliotheąue Nationale.
Manuscript of Homilies ofGregory ofNazianzos {Cod. gr. 510)
(after Der Nersessian, o.c)
In the miniaturę the white spekions are a part of the
costume of the imperial entourage standing behind
the throne (fig. 3) and the fresco shows an imperial
triumph where they are worn by the two antecessors
23 Brubaker, o.c., p. 265, fig. 25; Der Nersessian,
o. c., fig. 8; X. MTTaKipręfis,' HBaoiAiKp tou Ayiou Ar]iJT]Tplou,
0eoaaAoviKri 1997, p. 65-67, fig. 35, who recognize emperor
as Justinian II or Basil II during their triumphal entrances to
the church after their victories over Slavs.
24 In the year 907 or 908 some cleric named Ktenas
through the mediation of emperor’s Chamberlain (paroikome-
nos) Samon bought title ofprotospatharios. On the beginning
emperor Leo VI resisted to sell title and yelled only after
inquirer offered forty litrae of gold (1 litra — ca. 319—324 g),
a pair of earrings worth 10 litrae and a silver plaque with
gilded images of animals of the same value, see DAI, vol. 1,
p. 244, v. 35—256[50], vol. 2,p. 194-195; E. Schilbach, By-
zantinische Metrologie, Miinchen 1970, p. 277—278 (Handbuch
der Altertumswissenschaft 12/4); Idem, Byzantinische metrol-
ogische Ouellen, Thessaloniki 1982, p. 14, 72, v. 13—16 [II 6],
74, v. 16-21 [II 71. M. McCormick, Eternal Victory. Trium-
phal Rulership in Late Antiąuity, Byzantium and the Early Me-
dieval West, Cambridge 1986, p. 201, notę 62 quotes a letter
of Saint Theodore Studite (Patrologiae cursus completus, Series
graeca, ed. J. P. Mignę, vol. 99, p. 1569) where author consoles
of spatharios Evdokimos despairing because of his blindness
on foot accompanying a riding emperor (probably
Leo VI the Wise)23.
Although in the mid-Byzantine court the title of
the protospatharios could be purchased by bribery, and
Theodore Studite considered this group as people
depraved and wicked; but yet their rank was still
significant as officials who continued the tradition
of ancient lictors carrying the emperors’ weapon dur-
ing solemn processions and triumphs. Holding this
office was treated as a great honour and that is why
candidates applying for it were willing to pay a con-
siderable amount of money24. Thus, introduction of
the uniform of high rank officers to the iconography
of Warrior Saints became understandable as a means
to illustrate their special position in the celestial
hierarchy as associated immediately with God.
Official yestment was also used to specify two
members of scholia gentilum — saints Sergios and
Bakchos. They are depicted as wearing uniforms of
protospatharioi in mosaics at the Daphni monastery
near Athens (ca. 1100; fig. 4, 5)22. As a matter of
fact, a broad patterned golden badge covering the
shoulders of the white tunic of the saints (especially
Sergios) does not resemble in shape chrysoclavia
but other elements typical of this formation: ma-
niakions26, swords in a scabbard, and particularly
long sticks decoratively pointed with a knob and
yertical edge with three leaves and pearls on the
end — clearly indicate their official position. The
last element called spathobaklion (from spathion — a
sword and Latin baculus, Greek baktron — a stick, a
club) can be interpreted as sign of a Scholia unit27.
could not take a part in imperial processions. Theodore writes
this situation will protect him from contact with similar vil-
lains and scoundrels (i. e. companions of Evdokimos).
25 See P. Lazarides, The Monastery of Daphni, Brief 11-
lustrated Archaeological Guide, Athens s. d., fig. 40—41; E.
Diez, O. Demus, Byzantine Mosaics in Greece, Hosios Lucas &
Daphni, Cambridge Mass. 1981, fig. 68—69-
26 Torque is a very important element of a couple of saints
because it derived from the text of their Passio. Before the were
put to death, their insignia — and especially mentioned in the
text collars were taken away, see J. Van den Gheyn, Passio
antiąuor Ss. Sergii et Bacchi, Analecta Bollandiana 14 (1895),
p. 380. On the history of torc and its representations in the
Byzantine art see Ch. Walter, The MaoiaKiou or Torc By-
zantine Tradition, Revue des Etudes Byzantines 59 (2001), p.
179—192 (reprint in: Idem, The Iconography of Constantine the
Great Emperor and Saint, with Associated Studies, Leiden 2007).
27 About maniakions and swords beeing together with the
spekion an elements of protospatharios’ uniform see Constantini
PorphyrogenitiImperatorisDeCerimoniis..., vol. l,p. 574, v. 2—13:
“TrpcoToaTTaSdpioi scjApaaay Ta śauTcfiy cmyapia Kai paviaKia”,
p. 575, v. 8-9 [II 151: “TrpcoTooTtaBapioi £(f)ópsaav Ta ypuaa
12