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The most important icons are of: Elijah (12th century) in the severe Comnenian style; St. Nicholas (12th century) on a silver ground and surrounded by ten scenes from his life; Christ Pantocrator (14th century); Saints Cosmas and Damian (14th century); the Panagia Glykofiloussa and the Deposition from the Cross (late 14th century); the Man of ...
The arms and armour of the Byzantine forces in the late 11th and 12th centuries were generally more sophisticated and varied than those found in contemporary Western Europe. Byzantium was open to military influences from the Muslim world and the Eurasian steppe, the latter being especially productive of military equipment innovation.
Multiple spearheads have been found from 11th century Byzantine sites, namely the Drastar battlefield of 1081 AD, the Serce Limani shipwrecks, and the 12th–13th century Great Palace destruction layer. [65] [66] [67] Maces (called a rabdion, vardoukion, or matzouka) and axes (called a pelekion, axina, or tzikourion) served as shock weapons.
Unlike the Western feudal lords, Byzantine aristocratic families did not, as far as is known, use specific symbols to designate themselves and their followers. [a] Only from the 12th century onwards, when the Empire came in increased contact with Westerners because of the Crusades, did heraldry begin to be used among Byzantines. Even then ...
The origins of Kastoria are from the 9th century, as its surrounding walls and oldest churches, such as St. Stephan and the Taxiarchs, date from the era. [7] The first mention of the settlement of Kastoria was by Skylitzes in relation to events of the late 10th century during the Byzantine–Bulgarian wars.
Dedicated to the Archangel Michael, it was built in the 9th or 10th century. The use of ancient spolia indicates that it was possibly built on the remains of an early Christian basilica . [ 1 ] [ 2 ] The church is a small three-aisled basilica, with a narthex and a dome, added after the original construction was finished.
It was part of the armour of the Byzantine heavy cavalry. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] This cavalry called the kataphraktoi also wore this with a thickly padded surcoat epilorikion as added covering. [ 5 ] Considered one of the three best armors together the thorax and zava-lorikion , it was also worn by the Taghmatics and the Byzantine Imperial Guards.
The decline of the Byzantine military during the 11th century is parallel to the decline of the peasant-soldier, which led to the increased use of unreliable mercenaries. [ 12 ] Light cavalry were primarily used for scouting, skirmishing and screening against enemy scouts and skirmishers.