John Skylitzes
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John/Ioannes Skylitzes/Scylitzes (Greek Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, fl. 1081) was a Byzantine historian of the late 11th century.
His major work is the Synopsis of Histories (Σύνοψις Ἱστοριῶν), which covers the reigns of the Byzantine emperors from the death of Nicephorus I in 811 to the deposition of Michael IV in 1057; it continues the chronicle of Theophanes Confessor. There is a continuation of this work, known as Skylitzes Continuatus covering 1057–1079, possibly also written by Skylitzes.
[edit] The Madrid Skylitzes
An illustrated version of the Synopsis was produced in Sicily in the 12th century, and is now at the Biblioteca Nacional de España in Madrid, so is known as the Madrid Skylitzes, Codex Græcus Matritensis Ioannis Skyllitzes, or Skyllitzes Matritensis. It is the only surviving illustrated manuscript of a Greek chronicle, and includes 574 images. It is unclear whether the images are copies of Byzantine images or new to the copy.
[edit] Bibliography
- Bente Bjørnholt and J. Burke, eds. "The Cultures and Contexts of the Madrid Skylitzes" International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds, 13 July 2004 (pub. 2005).
- AHRB Skylitzes Colloquium, Belfast, 21-22 September 2002, Institute for Byzantine Studies, Queen's University, Belfast.[1]
- John Wortley (trans.), John Scylitzes, a synopsis of histories (811-1057 A.D.): a provisional translation, Centre for Hellenic Civilization, University of Manitoba, 2000.
- B. Flusin (trans.), J.-C. Cheynet (ed.), Jean Skylitzès: Empereurs de Constantinople, Ed. Lethielleux, 2004, ISBN 2-283-60459-1.
