Institute of Historical Research . Section of Byzantine Research

The project focuses on the identification of elements of orality and performance in the Late Antique, Byzantine and post-Byzantine period. The research team consists of scholars from different fields aiming to establish a methodology that will enable the project to approach through the perspective of performance texts and rituals of Greek tradition.

The theory of orality, first introduced by Homerists Milman Parry and Albert Lord, was further expanded by Gregory Nagy of Harvard University. Up until now, it has been studied primarily in terms of literary works of the middle Byzantine period (Theodore Prodromos’ poems, Manganeios Prodromos’ poems, Digenis Akrites etc.) by Michael and Elizabeth Jeffreys. The last few years have seen several studies by Margaret Mullett, Emmanuel Bourbouhakis, Przemysław Marciniak and Stratis Papaioannou examining various aspects of the relationship between rhetoric and performance.

The project has started in 2016 with the compilation of bibliography and working meetings, in which all contributors presented the relevant to the topic bibliography of their respective fields.
The aim of the project is the investigation of the main elements of orality and performance in written and visual records, as well as in rituals and performances that derive from archetypical models.
Since the beginning of the program monthly meetings are organized with the participation of the members of the research team, while another three public seminars on memory and performance were held in 2017 and 2018. The program also organized an international conference in cooperation with the Ioannou Centre of the University of Oxford.

Funding
The activities of the Project have been funded by the Centre for Hellenic Studies of Harvard University, the American College of Greece and by the Ioannou Centre of the University of Oxford.

Other members

Associated researchers
Zoe Ghinni, Conservator, National Library of Greece
Angelike Stassinou, Conservator, Greek State Archives

External Collaborators (2002–2010)
Artemis Kampouraki, Conservator, Byzantine and Christian Museum
Dr Anastasia Lazaridou, Archaeologist, Ministry of Culture and Sports
Babis Legas, Publisher - Bookbinder
Yannis Balis, Conservator
Eleni Ramfou, Philologist
Yannis Skordyles, Conservator
Angeliki Stathi, Philologist
Artemis Stamatelou, Museologist, Byzantine and Christian Museum
Ioanna Stefani, Conservator, Paper conservation lab, Byzantine and Christian Museum

Conferences and Events

“The Art of Bookbinding from Byzantium to the Present Day”, an exhibition at the Diexodos Cultural Centre, 2002
“The Art of Bookbinding: Treasures of the City of Ioannina”, an exhibition at Ioannina, February – March 2003
“Forms of the Ancient Greek and Byzantine Book”, an exhibition organized for the 6th Symposium of Greek Palaeography, Archaeological Museum of Drama, September 2003
“The Book in Byzantium: Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Bookbinding”, international symposium, NHRF, 13–16 October 2005
“The Art of Bookbinding from Byzantium to Modern Artistic Creation”, Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens, September 2012 -- March 2013

Publications

Z. Ghini, A. Stassinou and N. Tsironi, “Documentaion of Historical Bookbindings: The Conservators’ Function and the Need for a Communication Code”, Annual Colloquium of Conservators of Antiquities and Art-Objects, Athens 2014 [in Greek]
A. Stassinou, “Seventeenth to Nineteenth Century Archival Bindings from the Greek State Archives (the Mykonos Archive)”, in N. Tsironis, ed., The Book in Byzantium: Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Bookbinding, International Symposium proceedings, (Athens 13–16 Oct. 2005), Vivlioamphiastes 3, Athens 2008, 407–20 [in Greek]
A. Stassinou, Methodological Remarks Pertaining to the Terminology Employed in the Study and Description of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Bookbindings”, in N. Tsironi, ed., The Sight of Books: From the Codex to the Digital Documentation, digital publication, NHRF, Athens 2020 [in Greek]
N. Tsironi and B. Legas, eds, The Art of Bookbinding, Exhibition catalogue, Athens 2002, 2003, 2012 [in Greek]
N. Tsironi and B. Legas, The Art of Bookbinding: Treasures of the City of Ioannina, exhibition catalogue, Athens 2003 [in Greek]
B. Legas, ed., Vivlioamphiastes 2, Athens 2004
N. Tsironi, “The Hellenic Society for Bookbinding”, Vivlioamphiastes 2, Athens 2004, 19–24 [in Greek]
Β. Άτσαλος και Ν. Τσιρώνη (επιστ. επιμ.), Πρακτικά ΣΤ’ Διεθνούς Συμποσίου Ελληνικής Παλαιογραφίας, Δράμα 21-27 Σεπτεμβρίου 2003, 3 τόμοι, Αθήνα 2008
V. Atsalos and N. Tsironi (eds.), Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium of Greek Palaeography, Drama 21–27 September 2003, 3 vols, Athens 2008
N. Tsironi, ed., with the collaboration of Anastasia Lazaridou and Babis Legas, The Book in Byzantium: Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Bookbinding, Proceedings of international symposium, 13–16 October 2005, Vivioamphiastes 3, Athens 2008
N. Tsironi (ed.), The Sight of Books: From the Codex to Digital Documentation, e-book, NHRF, Athens 2020
N. Tsironi, “The Sight of Books in Public Space: Exhibitions on the History of Bookbinding”, in N. Tsironi (ed.), Aspects of Books: From the Codex to Digital Documentation, e-book, NHRF, Athens 2020
N. Tsironi, “Researching the Bindings: Bibliographical Records and Aspects of Approach”, in N. Tsironi (ed.), The Sight of Books: From the Codex to Digital Documentation, e-book, NHRF, Athens 2020
N. Tsironis (ed.), Le livre comme texte et objet sensoriel, Association Pierre Belon, Paris 2020 (in the press)
Ν. Τsironis, “Le livre comme objet sensoriel : trésors et representations”, in N. Tsironis (ed.), Le livre comme texte et objet sensoriel, Association Pierre Belon, Paris 2020 (in the press)

Η βάση ορολογίας βυζαντινών και μεταβυζαντινών σταχώσεων αποτελεί μέρος του ερευνητικού προγράμματος ΑΝΑΒΑΘΜΙΣ, και λειτουργεί στον ιστότοπο του Ινστιτούτου Ιστορικών Ερευνών του Εθνικού Ιδρύματος Ερευνών.