Il Monte Athos in età mediobizantina fra storia e archeologia (sec. IX-XI): fra storia e archeologia

Marco Muresu

First

2020-01-01

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Abstract

The volume is the result of research on the archaeology, history, and culture of the monasteries of the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos (Αυτόνομη Μοναστική Πολιτεία Αγίου Όρους), from the 9th to the 11th century. The term 'Mount Athos' refers to the last of the three land tongues that form the Chalkidiki Peninsula in Greece. It is a unique place in the world, as well as one of the most important sanctuaries and pilgrimage destinations of Orthodox Christianity. The twenty Sacred Monasteries located in its territory still preserve today some of the finest expressions of sacred art, architecture, and painting from the Byzantine Eastern Mediterranean cultural scene. During the medieval age, Athos played a strong and influential role in the society of the time, thanks to the prestige of its monastic phenomenon, which initially developed in an eremitic form – starting in the first half of the 9th century – and later became communal and autonomous, thanks to the actions of key figures such as St. Athanasius of Megisti Lavra (~920 – 1000).