The academic interest in space over the past decades, the so-called “spatial turn,” has given new impetus to exploring various aspects of spatiality also in (post-) Byzantine Studies. One aspect that remains to be examined, especially through an interdisciplinary lens, is the concept of enclosed spaces: spaces with concrete limits constitute, literally or metaphorically, dark zones that can shed light on their broader environs and contexts. How were enclosed spaces thought to offer a specific experience to their inhabitants or visitors? Were they expected to fulfil a particular function in the lived world or in the development of a narrative? If that was the case, how is a limited space constructed physically or described narratively to accomplish this purpose? Did it allow communication with the outside world, and if yes, how? How are smaller communities in (en)closed spaces or limited geographical areas depicted in medieval sources as adapting themselves to their environments? In which form do enclosed spaces from the Byzantine past survive today and how have their roles and identities changed in the modern societies where they are located? The proposed Round Table aims to address these and other questions by bringing together experts in the field and examining the topic from different perspectives. Various examples of enclosed spaces, secular and religious, fictional and real, symbolic and literal, will be discussed to contribute to our understanding of the multifaceted concept of enclosed spaces, as conceived by Byzantines at the time of their creation and as perceived by later generations.
The paper explores the development of post-Byzantine wall painting in the monastic complex of Meteora and in the urban environment of Kalabaka between the 16th and 18th centuries. It seeks to examine how artistic traditions were reshaped through the interaction of itinerant workshops, monastic patronage, and urban devotional practices within the broader framework of Ottoman…
The conversion of Byzantine churches into mosques was a common practice in the Ottoman Empire, generally associated with political or symbolic motivations. The Church of Panagia in Antalya, however, followed a slightly different trajectory, as rumours of a sealed chapel affected its destiny after its conversion. Believed to house a chapel that was closed in…
The concept of the household (οἶκος) dates back to ancient times and signifies both the people who belong to it as well as all its assets. It is a social entity that includes not only the family, but many more people and possessions. As such, the household is not limited to the home, although since…
The cell within a Byzantine cenobitic monastery embodies a paradigmatic enclosed space. While cenobitic monasteries have been extensively studied as collective and institutional settings, the individual cell, where daily ascetic practice unfolds, has received comparatively little attention. This paper will offer a preliminary reflection on this space, focusing on how it shapes perception, bodily experience,…
The idea of enclosed spaces is directly related to the Aristotelian concept of place, or topos, in which place is described as both the limit of a circumscribing body as well as the “appropriate location each physical element tends towards.” Building upon this characterization of place, theorizers of place-making study the ways in which individuals…