Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Βυζαντινή ΙστορίαLibrary of the School of Philosophy
Supervisors info:
Κιουσοπούλου Αντωνία, Καθηγήτρια Βυζαντινής Ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Μεργιαλή-Σαχά Σοφία, Αναπλ. Καθηγήτρια Ιστορίας του Βυζαντινού Κράτους, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Νικολάου Κατερίνα, Καθηγήτρια Βυζαντινής Ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Κοινωνικό φύλο στο Βυζάντιο: όψεις αρρενωπότητας κατά τη μέση και ύστερη βυζαντινή περίοδο.
Translated title:
Gender in Byzantium: aspects of masculinity during middle and late byzantine era
Summary:
The following dissertation is a presentation of the male gender throughout the middle and late period of the Byzantine Empire. The position of men in Byzantine society is largely associated to the role of the emperor, ascetic saints, successful generals and aristocrats. Emperors and men of the higher classes had certain social obligations, especially from the Macedonian dynasty onwards. This dissertation is about what is mainly examined is the question of the male gender. Gender is defined as an individual’s appearance, their movements, their social behavior and their choices.
The first part of the paper explores which characteristics are considered and commented upon as masculine or not, through historical studies and Byzantine texts of the middle period. The role of eunuchs, their social gender and the treatment they received from the Byzantines is also discussed. Then, we examine byzantine men's choices regarding their physical appearance. The first part of the dissertation closes with the example of Basil II and the way in which his masculinity was highlighted, with a brief reference to homosexuality among Byzantine men.
The second part of the dissertation deals with the late Byzantine period. Firstly, the general characteristics of male emperors of the period are discussed through Byzantine texts, with the work of the emperor John VI Kantakouzenos as the main focus. Then, the change in the preferences of Byzantine men with regard to their appearance and choice of attire is studied in more detail. The second part concludes with a small chapter devoted to the eunuchs of the period and the reasons why they are omitted from late Byzantine texts.
Our essay ends with some conclusions and commentary concerning the Byzantines’ perception of the male gender and masculinity, the way these two concepts are treated by contemporary historiography and, finally, how the study of masculinity helps us to a better understanding of gender.
Main subject category:
History
Keywords:
gender, gender studies, byzantium
Number of references:
108
