International congress of byzantine studies belgrade, 22 27 august 2016

Georgios Pallis
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Philosophy,
Faculty of History and Archaeology, Athens, Greece; 
[e-mail]
Middle Byzantine Altars with Sculpture Decoration
The altar, the most sacred structure in the middle Byzantine church, is one of the less known 
works of sculpture of this era, almost hidden behind the chancel barrier or templon screen. Depending 
on the dimensions and the funds of each church building, the form of the middle Byzantine altar 
varies from rectangular slabs based on posts to semicircular slabs placed on masonry. The decoration 
is usually found on the frame of the slab, leaving the main surface empty and flat, probably in order 
to put on safely the holy vessels. However there are some cases with the surface totally covered with 
relief. The posts that hold the slab may have the form of small colonettes with inserted capitals. The 
main questions that arise from the study of this group of middle Byzantine altars are the selection of 
decorative patterns in use and their function on a structure which was out of sight, hidden behind 
the templon and under the vestments.
Philipp Niewöhner
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Berlin / Göttingen Universität, Göttingen, Germany; 
[e-mail]
New Christian Design in Marble Carving. 
The Curious Case of Anatolian Press Weights
Anatolia has preserved numerous large marble blocks that are beautifully sculpted with 
Christian symbols. Some have previously been associated with the liturgical furniture of churches 
and monasteries, but technical features identify them as weights for oil or wine presses. Such weights 
are well-known from other regions of the Byzantine Empire, where they normally remained without 
decoration. This paper presents an overview of the Anatolian press weights and their decorative 
repertoire. The paper also asks why press weights should have been decorated, why with Christian 
symbols, and why in Anatolia and not elsewhere.

---

493