Open AccessAutels portatifs (Altaria portatilia) - Antimensia. Courte note
Author(s) -
Katherina Karapli,
Hélène Papastavrou
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
zograf
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.104
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2406-0755
pISSN - 0350-1361
DOI - 10.2298/zog1438221k
Subject(s) - byzantine architecture , altar , treasure , art , ancient history , art history , history , classics , archaeology
The paper deals with the origins of the portable altar - the Byzantine antimension. Altaria portatilia were mentioned in literary sources since the seventh-eighth centuries. The sources also evidence their indispensable role related to liturgical rites, especially during military campaigns. The earliest known Byzantine antimension dates from the twelfth century. It is part of the Guelph Treasure, held by the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin. Originally, portable altars were mainly made of wood but over time, textile fabrics prevailed over this hard material. Their iconographic decoration has from the beginnings been related to their liturgical function