Weird, decadent, degenerate, racially mixed, superstitious,
theocratic, effeminate, and even hyper-literate, Byzantium has long
been regarded by many as one big curiosity. According to Voltaire,
it represented "a worthless collection of miracles, a disgrace for
the human mind" for Hegel it was "a disgusting picture of
imbecility." A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities will reinforce
these old prejudices, while also stimulating a deeper interest
among readers in one of history's most interesting civilizations.
Many of the zanier tales and trivia that are collected here revolve
around the political and religious life of Byzantium. Thus, stories
of saints, relics, and their miracles-from the hilarious to the
revolting-abound. Byzantine bureaucracy (whence the adjective
"Byzantine"), court scandals, and elaborate penal code are world
famous. And what would Byzantium be without its eunuchs, whose
ambiguous gender produced odd and risible outcomes in different
contexts? The book also contains sections on daily life that are
equally eye-opening, including food (from aphrodisiacs to fermented
fish sauce), games such as polo and acrobatics, and obnoxious views
of foreigners and others (e.g. Germans, Catholics, Arabs, dwarves).
But lest we overlook Byzantium's more honorable contributions to
civilization, also included are some of the marvels of Byzantine
science and technology, from the military (flamethrowers and hand
grenades) to the theatrical ("elevator" thrones, roaring mechanical
lions) and medical (catheters and cures, some bizarre). This vast
assortment of historical anomaly and absurdity sheds vital light on
one of history's most obscure and orthodox empires.
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