New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture-The Akathistos Hymnos Intermedial Compositional Processes in Later Byzantium

This book explores intermedial compositional processes in later Byzantium, building on the Akathistos Hymnos. Highlighting illuminated and notated manuscript copies of the hymn as evidence for varied liturgical and devotional practices, they examine how icons and murals based on the Akathistos functioned as constituent elements of sacred space. This book explores intermedial compositional processes in later Byzantium, building on the Akathistos Hymnos. The relationship between the hymn’s text, music, and illustrations has yet to be explored in detail. The contributions here argue that these painted cycles should be studied as a result of interaction between hymnography, psalmody, and visual art, not just as mere illustration of text. Highlighting illuminated and notated manuscript copies of the hymn as evidence for varied liturgical and devotional practices, they examine how icons and murals based on the Akathistos functioned as constituent elements of sacred space. Focusing on intermediality, this book helps bridge methodological gaps between scholarly approaches to medieval culture.