The Church of St. Polyeuktos, built in the 6th century in Constantinople, was the largest church of its time. This book recounts its rediscovery during the 1960s, which sparked significant interest in Byzantine archaeology. However, contrary to expectations, its excavation did not resolve many historical questions but instead complicated them further. The narratives established around the church over the decades reflect more about 20th-century perspectives on Byzantine architecture than the actual building itself. This work is accessible to a wide audience, offering insights into the church's architectural significance and historical context.
While the rediscovery and excavation of St. Polyeuktos in Istanbul was without doubt one of the greatest sensations of Byzantine archaeology in the twentieth century, the scholarly expectations for this find were completely exaggerated.
Many thought that this building would act as a missing link and would be able to explain the many open questions about the innovations in early-sixth-century Constantinopolitan architecture. However, St. Polyeuktos hardly provided any answers, but raised more questions than it answered.
The study of St. Polyeuktos will tell us as much about Byzantine architectural history in the second half of the twentieth century as about early Byzantine architecture itself.
A strength of The Church of St. Polyeuktos at Constantinople is how the author effectively debunks clichés about the history of Hagios Polyeuktos and Constantinople.
#byzantine-architecture #church-of-st-polyeuktos #historical-archaeology #art-history #constantinople
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