MASTER OF THE OFFICES
Chief administrator of the GREAT PALACE.
MESE
Main thoroughfare of Constantinople. Its entire length was rich with columns, arches, and statuary depicting secular, military, imperial, and religious subjects as well as fountains, churches, workshops, monuments, public baths, and private dwellings, making it a perfect mirror of the heavily populated and densely built city it traversed.
MILION
Situated near the GREAT CHURCH, it was the official milestone from which all distances in the empire were measured.
MIME
After the second century CE mime supplanted classical Roman pantomime in popularity. Unlike performers of pantomime, mimes spoke and did not wear masks. Their presentations featured extreme violence and graphic licentiousness and were strongly condemned by the Christian church.
MITHRA
Sun god. Born in a cave or from a rock, he slew the Great Bull, from whose body all animal and vegetable life sprang. Mithra is usually depicted wearing a tunic and Phrygian cap, his cloak flying out behind him, and in the act of slaying the Great Bull. He was also known as Mithras. His worship was spread throughout the Roman empire via its followers in various branches of the military.
MONOPHYSITES
Adherents to Monophysitism, which held Christ had only one nature and that it was divine.
NARSES (c480–574)
Serving JUSTINIAN I at various times as chamberlain and general, Narses, a EUNUCH, aided and ultimately replaced BELISARIUS as leader of the campaign to reconquer Italy.
NIKA RIOTS
Much of Constantinople was burnt down during these riots in 532, which took their name from the mob’s cry of Nika! (Greek, Victory!).
NUMMI (singular: nummus)
Smallest copper coin during the early Byzantine period.
PALACE OF LAUSOS
Named after its owner and destroyed by fire in 475, the palace is now known only from its appearance in literary works. It was famous for its collection of Hellenic sculpture, including works by PRAXITELES.
PATRIACH
Head of a diocese or patriarchate.
PLATO’S ACADEMY
Plato (428–347 BC) founded his academy in 387 BC. Situated on the northwestern side of Athens, its curriculum included natural science, mathematics, and training for public service. Along with other pagan schools it was closed in 529 by order of JUSTINIAN I.
POLYCLITUS (fl 5th century BC)
Greek sculptor, also known as Polykleitos. He created a number of bronze works, notably of athletes, and was also responsible for a highly praised gold and ivory Hera. His statue of a spear-carrier illustrated his theories on the body’s ideal proportions and the representation of balanced movement in sculpture. None of his works survive and they are now known only through references in literature, depictions on coins, or Roman copies.
POLYTHEMUS
In Greek mythology, the one-eyed giant blinded by Odysseus.
PRAXITELES (fl 4th century BC)
Considered one of greatest Greek sculptors, Praxiteles’ subjects were often taken from mythology. Aphrodite of Cnidus was his most celebrated statue. However, as is the case of all but one of his works, only descriptions and copies of the Aphrodite remain. The only surviving marble known to have been created by Praxiteles is Hermes Carrying the Infant Dionysus.
PREFECT
See CITY PREFECT.
PROCOPIUS (d 565)
Born in Caesarea in Palestine, he was BELISARIUS’ secretary and advisor and accompanied him on his campaigns. Procopius’ writings include De Bellis (552, supplemented in 554), an eight volume history of the military campaigns of JUSTINIAN I, and De Aedificiis (561), six books describing numerous buildings erected by order of JUSTINIAN I. His scurrilous Anecdota, also known as The Secret History, relates scandalous and libelous tales about the imperial couple, members of the court, and other high personages. The Anecdota, thought to have been written in the mid or late 550s, was published posthumously.
REPENTANCE
PROCOPIUS records THEODORA founded a convent refuge for former prostitutes. Situated on the Asian shore, it was known as Metanoia, from the Greek, a change of heart or mind, although in this application usually translated as meaning repentance.
RIOTS
SAMSUN’S HOSPICE
Founded by St Samsun (d 530), a physician and priest. Also known as Sampson or Samson the Hospitable, he is often referred to as the Father of the Poor because of his work among the destitute. The hospice was near the GREAT CHURCH.
SILENTIARY
Court official whose duties were similar to those of an usher, and included guarding the room in which an imperial audience or meeting was being held.
SIMEON THE STYLITE (390–459)
Born in Syria, Saint Simeon first lived as a hermit and then spent over 35 years as a STYLITE.
SISYPHUS
In Greek mythology, because he was disrespectful to Zeus, Sisyphus, king of Corinth, was condemned to keep pushing a heavy rock up a steep hill forever, since as soon as it reached the top, it rolled down again.
SOPHOCLES (c496–406 BC)
Greek dramatist, famous for his tragedies. He wrote over 120 plays, of which seven survive, along with numerous fragments of his other works.
STYLITES
Holy men who lived atop columns, they were also known as pillar saints, from the Greek stylos, pillar.
TESSERAE (Singular: tessera)
Small pieces of glass, stone, marble, etc, used to create mosaics.
THEODORA (c497–548)
Influential and powerful wife of JUSTINIAN I. It has been alleged she had formerly been an actress and a prostitute. A woman of strong character, when the NIKA RIOTS broke out in Constantinople in 532, Theodora is said to have urged JUSTINIAN I to remain in the city, thus saving the imperial throne.
TUNICA
Tunic-like undergarment.
ZEUXIPPOS
Thracian deity whose name combined Zeus and Hippos (Greek: horse).
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