The Venice Alexandcr Romance'.

pictorial narrative and the art of telling stories

B.
Nicolettc S. Trahoulia

5 contains With a total of 250 i ustrations, Venicc Ilellcnic Institutc Gr' to have Ro'nt'd Greek the of 'Al'rr"i'er lhc onlv fully illustu.rtcd coP,v bi' rubrics is a'conrpalried illustrarion iach . ti" p**"t da-vi later at sorne addacl ""rJ",.r that notes Turkish 'erc wntten in rcd ini, as n'clL as Andrcas Since handsl Turkish into .amc date lvhen the mnnuscripi lr'in' rr l')66 1f" \\ ncl r^Ul * l- \' pul-l 'hcd lF n-nrr''riP ' u'ln P'lurv la bi"o'Ll un t\rlh lr'urlre'lh.onnF,', - LrFr. irn') iliustration trontisPiece in tle empcror giverl the ttre lasis of tf.., title is in all patro& book! thc cl.lrrl-v ernpercr, i-r+. ll.ri.'ri"" r*p";ntine

strmmarY uodlei.n Li;rarv Ban).cl lTisa stuallbook$ith3l iltu+ratiois doneina neler s'er' that 8s illlstrauons and roueh rnrNcr nnd spaces for an additional dcr bll'r jte Caryus I llulret' in .irried;rt Tlrc illrrsf,ations Plblished li :1 rqJ lrb' trn 'nt\th't . t1t.l.)n o Bal:'t ,

Onl! on. olher iLhstrate.l versbn of thc Greck text sLrrvivcs Oxlor'l

,,.,, "' r\.,.1r.. 'r,l D r'-r o'-r' \' \n 'i 'rrr^ o' ur(-1'p rol' providirg ftmds iff reprod!.t1o.s ' : T;c Turkidr notes lo d nunrber of illu+iitions are iranslalcd nlto Fnglish jn N.S. Trahoulia, fh( \knn( Atetrniler t<.mMP,Ikllt ti. ln.'titrk atttlcx G 5: A
r;
ittnlu ot Al':rmd.t

rl .,,,,.' l. l" . " a;er"*"",r--

"ri rlJ."d lr'r..-.rr' l'7' ' r" 'rr'"f l '' R'm " ,' -' ','r. 'l 'n ri ' ro nd r" B 'l r'!- "Gregirie"" in .lel1'l+itulo E cnico di Vnezi'r: Cli)sse lnrche

I11.

Ctttt ts rn IttPt:ridl PuttdiSti

it Eyztitin'

Aft afltl t lttaLut

Ttrdr ttrr/d (istanbul, 2003),:11 60 I r\. X\nqopoulos, L.i MtuBttLres d, Ranrn d'Al' ndr lt: rlnntl ldtt lt $t1'x 01 n. L'ht.t ittn ik'iLi;iq'. l. \te,b. (Athens 'nd Vcni"',196''); {or the idcntitlcalion "lhe Alcratdcr L Calltilhea sec ihe iniperiil patron as n TraPezutinc enpcror ii,"-.'* i,, ri" rr.'lr."i. lnsiitute it Venicc Somc n't''s on tlre lliLial miniiturc"

m.sattis

tttt 16(t979),174 zoa

rlrrl \'1_" rJ ' tr o \'" ;" " . ..."{d ' " rnr.! lbl l',r'r-l , rr.,t/. rt,rl,,n r,,.L
145

\q i\ 'ol O 'l'h rJ\\"' 'il '

I ]ISTCTRY

A5 LIIIILATLIRE

B\ ZA \TI

Fig.8.1

NtCOLEll li

S.

TRAHOULIA

117

empcr(,r Ale\andef, most e\cellcnr ol all . ror{,ncd men and rutrr of a th world,.having contcmplare(l \()ur great tabours and kjeectsl, ancl vour all'triumpharri kingship, I ll.rd the desirc...,5. Ljc(.aLlsc rhe rernaincler of ihe inscriptiorl is missing, the natrre of the empcrort dcsjre musr remanl enigDralic, a matLer for specahtnnr. Evidcnce srigg.rsts thai the crnperor,s portrait ofigin.llv fac.'d a. imagc ot Atcrander, now missing, and that th.rulcrs ma! hive becrr shol\n a! if engag.:d in di.toiluc.i .this ivoutd crplarn ihe empcft)r's gazc and gesturc ro thc right, presum.btv dirccred iorrards ihe rmag.r ofAlcxander. <mjlnr instance of dialogue is scen in the nanuscripr of Ilippocrates _ A Biblbthcque (Pais Narionate Cr. 2laa) commissrcn..j bi' re\ios

likclj hoodnl(:x'os lll Kom nenos ( 1349 90), .r n empefor e,ho wlrs comparcLl toAlcxander the Cfeat in imperia t pa.egvric.Lln thc dedx.lorv nrs.rip nl nccompanl,m8 rhe empcror's poriraiL, he addresscs Ale\ander ,t, o bra\c

\t t,rl

o,

lr, n

n,,r l. i.p...

.,nd

ihe mnri;1tures.r As in cr. 5, Apokaukos ..tc:hcsses llippocratcs in thc firii p(J5on rfLl expresscs a desirc, in tlis c.rs. Lo rc.ad the tr,o.ks of the author. Hippo.ratcs respo.ds bv priisnlg Apokaukos, skills as ;, comnrander and

,,ur1fdi - $.rt .t:Jtuqr, :n \F

trt(.

Jtrt.|,,,%r.-

Jr

J \/,,\,rk,,. ,,ts - nr|oJrr'r-.

r.i,xarri|rr., la;.Dd Bellnlge.i,,Il,,ltomrnz().lAless.ndd,,,5E fit.d rn Callrrlrer,'The A Iexande. Roman.e,, 4. I Th. ilh,srr.rtions .r. r.prcduccd in H. Onn)nL,rE2 Mihn,tut., Lt6 t)tu! ,ntidrs ,rurs.riri {r.i d. 1n Firlntthatltt \rtian.tt,tt, |?,r Xa. s(rr/{,(p! s, 1929), pts. l2t and 129. Sc. als{) ioscph A. Munitiz, ,Dedicdtnrg a lotume: Apokaukos ;nd flippo.ralcs (P!ris gr 21'14)', tnCon+.ntii es,.t,t.,.t /1[.,l,'1HL;, i67 80

ot hrrrlrspic,e fortrnits. Confirnrtion of this is lou,r.l jn the lurkish inscr4rboD Lhc survivint ftundspic.e This ins..iplior trb.ls the empe.or.s Ale\Jn.l.r i s.. dfathe, presumab\. bccaus. wt,.n the tLrrkish was w,,ncn rh.re w.r. h\o rnp..ial lniges? Ale\ander and dr cmp.ror Sec Trlhoutia, ljii. a;fd.t .4lfi rr,jfl rif,rrr.!, 3!j Call.gher, 'The Ate\! | dd. R;nan.e,, I E0 85, X\,ngoFoulc,

Fnr ih. .isso.iation wirh Ale\i.rs III sec Tr.houlia, I Vttit Atcidndtt Itdrur.. ll 61r.nd N. S. Iiahouli.,'/)1. Cir.k Al.\dntlt L<athtie Vnritl. H.tt.ft i /|irrti,i CfLi.i c,:5 (Arhms, t997), 3j a. rr !,, |]dor\.'r r\/\italilt tr!v,1furl drrotot....,\, .ia({trl nli koouln.,r,11[r,,!] ro!( ooii. r.drinlr,)f] rdtutrDc rdt rd li.r,adt, nrarn;.ld1l ro!,,.\1,\ ir,!rL.\rt'dvl I'rr^ ro0o!.,A1l trandations dre rhe dxlhor,s. ' hi cmtcror lolnr h.s b.n rebound as ! rccto, bll n,!s origilrnlv . Rr$ !s,s ndr{ir.d br the r,fle jnnef Durgin ,ntrt r",tirt, :",..ipti,n1 o" ir," uLt.". foln)<, lir. trid.r nurgi. is rh ouier one d.d Ure.turtish inscripfi()n is writlcn o. thc oute. nrargif. In rhc orignratari.rrgemcnt, tfis totio {.out.t ha!. turmcd alifolio 1t,th di. rc.ro inuBc ot Atexeder nr the i.mitjar .tipq,ch !n.ngehent
J

1llE

]TISIOR\ AS LIlfRATUITE

1\ U\ ']\TTUI\I
q

his wish to acquire the knot'lcdge .on tainc.l nr hls q.itings Llased on this crxample, it is quit possiblc tltat tlle emPc.or's stated d.rsirc inGr.5 was to rcad about and see imagcs of Alexandcr! gte,rt iriDmPhs and nd\entures, b which he alludes in ihc survivnrg inscriptlorr' Thc facinil illLrstration of Alexan d cr rna)' then havc bee| a.companiecl b\ .rn inscrlption in t{hich hl replies to thc emperor in a man.(r sinlilar L.r Hil'Pocrats This imailined conversa fion s1liltesrs a sPecial .dafionshlp bh\ tcn the greai rulcr of the past and the prcsent ru1er, perhaps crpressLng ihe ulsltken desirc of the cnperor b bc a'Ne*' Alcrander', or an 'emulan)r of Alexandcr', as the court panegyrist Siephartos SgouroPoLllos Pro.laime.l Alexios lll in at

Elsewhcle t bavc dcmonstratcd tlrrl ilru tc\t oi Cr. 5, known as thc l recension, combnlcs h{o earlicr ferension(. the ! and ih. F, choosnlg the most bvzantinizing .rnd glorifvinil des.riPtions from each to creatc a truly Byzantine Ale\artder' At the sanre fime, the illustrations not onl)r depict Alcxander in th glrisc oi a B!,anlinc e peror acilrlg In a Bvzi tine cnvironment, brlt enlilen the ston in sllch a way as to draw the \.jei{cr into the action. Paging through ihc book, one is struck by ihc extensivLrlcss of ihc iLLusiraiion. T\i .nd i ag .lpPear to share equatty the lask of communicatnlS tlrc n.rrrati\ c. In order lo illustr.tte the tcxt so completcl),, the majoitv c)l tull-Fage illusriri.ns are dilided inb two Irames to a.comrnodatc hLo sLrrlcs Tlrese nlar b separatc epF.]dcs or differen! nroments of a \ingLe .'rPisocie furihm1ore, l\'ithin a single frame .onsecutivc an.l simultaneous a.Lions i'iihin an cPisocle arr oftendePictcd' The extc.ni to whi.h the n.rr.rh\ e is dis<e.ird an.l lllusiratcd in all its fine detail produces a Pafticulafl! dense Pi.tl)nal narrativc Vadous Pictorial devicc's are usect b e\press tcmPordl dc\ cLoPmni so that the illusirations do more than jLrsi illutrate kc\ moments in the na rr. tivc; they perform the narrativc over spac.: an.t iimr' The oleril\ Periormniive character of the pictorial narratiye in the \reni.c .1['r.'ritY n.rt,r,rt" suggests that using the book l\as meant to provide a Lrirticula. kjnd ot experjencc In this essa,v, T shall argur thnt the illu:lrations oiCr.5 are struciurcd tor

least one crlcomium."'

prrformance,sothattheinragesaremoiiettrcti!eif vicwed'hilelistening io an oral recitation oI lhc narratj\e The aLrdief.c.ouldbe conrPosed oI

! r|

(Pari\,17t)2),777

Thc rcxL is publislrcd rn t Bon jn. \rn.r,1,n E, dnd Crctttrds. Il. llaa \

art.r&t
PaPi

Hi.tatiae ltlzantnn

ll

Rlorolord!i(ni Tatu& oi r().:1st\o! i.!: ofrt.ioLt\ou nqoq rn! pdotlad "ToD Ku?o! Ai.t.ov ror K,)F1rt!o! ort\()t t' itr !tr,, -LN.i,.1pIu nJr I/.trdt 19 (195:1), 280 v\r 188 9 ri lor . dlailed .n.lrsis oi the I ru..nlrin and thc .Lcments takcn trorn ' andpsee frahorlia, rl. ritr.. nlror1.r lt,"'iii,, ,6 96, ant1lh( G ck Al.xtitl(t

'NtrFrtrit\

r.!lvl,ltri()\.: !\.lr1tair" inr

theodorido!,

ed

\ICOLIiITE

5.

1'RAIIOLI,IA

the emperor alone, or tr'ith mcmbers oI Lhc court gathered in the emPcror's

trfdrr.;. the tode\ and its mostl-v tull Pagc illLrsLrations ae large enou8h th.L, if tile book wcr.'clisPl.r)'ed on a bookstand, the illustr'rtions wotrld l''elt-" c. l.,r l l. r" nurrbPr.'tl\eop" g.r h |d lur nPrru rJr!' l! Ir'ltsrr r'rJ' hr rLr,ur,.,rfp.tl h, ruir'rr\' \^o'rl. lrr., 1:reo I hl \ .r,'l.er, r'nro\in , rirn- e fi r. r.o , .rl l,' Li"o: rhr',in; h, i. . . rid r.,r. Jrgn r ','1rIr'olr, "-rr''o " Hi'ro- rr"-dfh olnqr'
L,

.rlleniion has been giYen h) the fu1ltiorl of teri and imagc lvith in a con irat by of pcriomance and t'hat it nright mean for nnailes to bc 'rcco'np'rfled lhc spokcn $'ofd.'

.' r. ri.'. "elr : .Jrp.".l r".r"r'rorrnr'i\e'Jr'r' or B\ /J^r'r:l \ "'nJ rt,. .-,",.,.,'.'l\. Hnh'\F. r lle.l ,.l or u'lr',,,l rJrL-ril '1 ll

lhe.odc\ ntasures l2.m t'! 2'1cm l'r thc nssumplion thal ]l!'tsh lilu+rited n nus..iPts in th $tst 1r..e m..!ri t{) be disflrle'l lo !n audien'e
nr (1989), I l7 rr'll.Lcrnr'or.lity'nsiiisuscdinthlsesslv'ncomPasscsb()thrcidnrgilotrd .s nell is N.iting lr(,m rncmory Guglichno Calt l{) b'li'ves that sjLent f'ading

riLher thin rrriviLclr rcad, s 14 CnmiLle,'Visualsigns ol the sicrcd Pag': books

th. I i!1i ,ritrhsee', l'Vr d rr, ifldr.5

r"-l'' Jl n" ' n \. ,-,,81, rl ,'J l-: ' '.- 'ft ,.igl;l ' '/ i ''.' eYiden'e pr'scnts llunger 5 lt'rbet I/rir.i,..1 S(iJ'.;s So.rll.s a (2001),851 ''.e- lo 'l rr:'l 'h'll'ri o l '" r''l' ur'li' '"t B ,' .. . r "' .4 r'r l' l''r'e' r " Cd\allo' "Lracc Per una I r:o, tr;rti, ir: Br.rk,lti | (N1unich, I989), I2'r'']\l5osecC
sidi.r.l.Lli lertura i

tsisan zla', FZ9512002)' 123.!'4; M N4rUcll, $iiting in eirlt nl, in fi McKltleri._k, cd , llit Unrs f Lit'rut:\ ift Errltt l)I'd ii(\1t nc.l ire r al B!/antiu ' 60;E.NI and lU i lci{rels,'l he oralbicki]roufd {'f 1990),15'r IrQr lcanrlridg.. i0H7; N4 lvlLlllcil"Rh'tori'' n"r""t ne oor"lar r',,etrv , Orll Tttditiln 113llgEb), no!, ln leffrevs' e'i'' and Bvzantnrm p.florndlce: tlico^ .ui tl* lmpeotivc or th"ire' oi'rhelori'll the lmPortancc oi ilrites N'lagdalino Rr.r.ii., 1ll 71. I';ul t K"tr'n'r Mrrutl r:ltpn' trl Tli. Magdalino, 1' Bvzarii,m: in hLelfth'.$h,n rCD\lrri.1{e. 1tr9jl, 335 6,4?a}3i1, C. Caulio, AlPhabclisnri l'it!re a Blsnnznt' i'. L v",..lt.i',, --a., tirt:.tft tti Ltu.dt.. (t'ans, 200rr), 97 109; P A AgaPitos,

\\'r

thci. dis.ussnlrs

nr J Durt.,'Th. M..lrid Sr!/il..s as an.!diovlsu'l e\pcrnnent ' te\l oi thal the Burke lST Proposcs Bukc, Lt ni.. eLls., lltzd ti . Ndnrtia '18' jl h) difficuLL finds but pcrlor'rln" nx oral nrtended $'.s ih. N4idrill SkrliiTei the \'ictnrg {'ith ha!e conr'ided tc\t'ould aldld ofthe rerding h(r\ tirc conc.i!c Sec

r'

fi r' - l,r'- J .|.; 'b A.rl ,. r"1 .' \' -Brl,r,i ' ','. ol oi.lll,t in this voLum..

1\f, lr"n'lr" _ '' r""

lu

oi

spcak;ig and per{orming h theThcodorc lisaltet', nr FI J!n's, cd', A' dr' ftrl tj l'ra riiL crrri,,i lca-l,ridse, 2007), 83 99. flle examn tbn oi ordlitlt l' 6enral' i;d iG ftuilcst.tion in ill;sirdted nrltuscrirns has bcen morc tulh explored jn

thL.

Di.hrres Also scc C Barbet

'b

Lhe Prcscn':e

ol (h' te\t:

fore on t!r'nng'

thc $enm me.licvil .ont.\t.

Tlt sedin.l rlotks are P Sa'nger,'Silc'i re'dht:

150

IISTOITY A5 LI IERAI LiRE

I\ I\'2,\\

I tU\'1

Pictorial deviccs
jlhrstrahons to A nLnnbr of cre.tivc pi.bri.l d\ i.s ife ' cctl nr Cr' 5! sive the \.i(\\'eI ;r sen;e of nr(,!enre't rrrti ttnrporil progrcssion Fifst'

ihe .lircction of .arralilc

is Darticlrlar, when Alc'xan.lcr la.is hi' rrmr' ih' !liferlion of m'rlcment irlmost ah,tavs iro,' lefi to right. AnJ xl''rl' \Le\JnLl!'r's army a'lvanccs rr' ' r''or 'r' l" ' rishls.,rJ. 'r no.in^ t'r d.'n'i

ilo* ior n.it

Llluitr'rtrLnl< is

ltft lo righi ln

Ev4mith|es. Turning tlrc Pigc,.lff trL'rLxl:ers on its vcrso lFig 83) tiv|vnlithtrs leadnlg his atnr\ irr !hr r';1f'.:itr 'l ft''ti'n to meel ^ler\anLler' the armie' ii \ffriri'f'l rs thc pa8e is lunred ih"'al"to.," ""p".i-ti,,g oi |r1'\rnrt i' r'f ised o LY in the rare dlretion ,\DDrooriat.:ly, ihc i',"i""i"" *,t et*""dcL anci hF i:n\ r'irr'l1' is in the upPer s'tne "" on fdb 52r (Fig 8.1) r'hcre ih. \Lr.]]'"drr'lri tee ihe Tvrians following as a deferat. Al|ixander's.(rnsist.ni i.rt n, rL:lrt nro!tnent neans that the pages arc tLr.ncd thtre i! a +rl't ':'i \lf\'n'l!r's slea'lv Progressiof throug'hlimcanclspa.u,{.l.litioniLl\'ih.DairrfrcmjseofhiscxPeditions hisdetenlrhed rn.r.h er5h\arcli r> ftir rirLl Another devicc is to rt]'rlsrnt rl":!n'l'ni \et rclated cvents s'dc oLrs bv sidc in the sa''re p;ct LrJ h!ki. \hnt i'Nmm' r'called'coniirl nanarive.'This mthod ciint\';eei L,n iLrri\,l,\ l-iS S a), whefc the )'ounil ('a:1"' I ill t'kc pla':c in Rome Alexan.ler is inforited thal th! Oilnri'r' h rtlr I gfouP of men at left' ln ihc uDpcr tr-inlc feccivinq ihis mrvs. Ntrt h.,g're! iir |hriif ! 'iL Ferrnission b Parhcip'tc i{c stanis beture his fath.r ;n.l trrr rrll' tr :rr' Lnees' lissing his father! havnlg hand. In the lo*er ftr!:ist .\l\.:1n!ir i.:fr"'r'n'i 'g:rh at right' His elaboratc b\ar grante.l p.rmission .\t leri he :.i- i'!" r' his io nle! PhjliP ili\-es th't \rlrre nc rend t:\: the r|lrln|ir in Llress is explainrrl Thc red blcssing'! .i hLs r'^err : rL)b+ Alex.rn.ler 'ri
le1a'el-cn.ru<t.1

.i.

,,g..l)

J'.,". r"

,,

'i;rr

. !:rfi{i'C'\' le'r7)'B S!o'L Tik j irrnt'1tdiroul //t rjro''jr/l r: , I "- : t,,",,",' ' '"r lrrillLl,liter'c)', md mediszL "f ",,"-. \l l-il \" -ir,"AOc."r,,i"'irt..fLtf r,I- Iiir I l: .r-l\1.l.Chn.hvfrorr^4c,tutv rc\h,.lt;.|nrt,N.r,trr.r,,i]i,.:, :ill!rthiidis.usscdingrc!tdel'il io t{'riav trarr/ (Crmt';.qf. \l1 l!-" : i IiLlrl, fr"r s"'i nr E"li r'!' lih.'pc'nr,nat;'equal;t';: th. iiri,.rr "'i' ,llhr'\\ "\. f, \ Lpn ..'-liLhile thc r''-1_'wcre ,,.,"'lr, r", '. Pi'tures Chretien de Troles, ithr.h shr 5r r.r" 'r-' ::r' rl'ud dK'i3'f/l'o'i nr J,,'* i. ,r." ri"i""*., s. r h,dr,.rn :. : : : :' I r"': R'!'idnrlr 91 ]L 199'1)' and9'1' tit llltmmar",) Ma,t;lipt'.I Ll'. ''f : r'r ' r fr,,r,i.ri1,,d, l,.utertn f, l s Ll. lon t,!!enstein, r1r, i].i i-.:: . 'r:i'g" (Meiseihdm 8 Glin. lq6l). lrr \\: l''l:
j,l,rtj*,i,",r
]l'dJsr rr,.

,',Pli| s;.c;./i(.'

|''rr'

Orrfrri','rr 'i1::i

NICOLETTI S'IILA]]OUI,IA

rubric at the top rcads:'Ilerc Alexandcr came lo Philip and askcd that he i be allo\ 1).1 to go io Rome.' And below: 'l'hilip tefuscd, but 'hcn he sarv his eagerncss, he asscnted."? As this erairple demonstrates, 'hjlc the red nrbrlcs provide abricf descriPtion ofthc main action of the scenes, thev are rrot ah.),s cnough tounderstandthe Pictures fulh- The illtrsirafi('1s are so packed u,ith seqlrc'rltiai and simL lancous actions ihat further 'rxflanation

A snnilar instan.e is secrl on fdio 16v (Iis 8 6), t-here thc rubric to the illushation rcads at !op: 'l'hilip lcaves Ior Dclphi to reccivc an oradc concerning who will rule aftcr hin 'r! And below: 'He is tolcl that the onc who is able to tamc lthe horscl nLlcephaLus rvill.ri lc after ]rcu.' " In the upPcr DorlrJr " ll_p rllLrrrd..o. sc 'ee I ilillrll nrl.'r;rouf' n'n llPlh"n
meant to reprcscnt the si tl] of DelPhi ln thc middle groun d .r figure sta'1'ls beforc theno cnthroned l'hilip, and belorv wc seeAlexandcr apProaching BLrcephalus and trltimately riding hn to the right Afuller underslan'ting of lhis illustration comes from reading the ronance text, \a4lcre Alexander is saiLl b reiease Btcephalus from a special 'ncbsure in which I'hilip kcpt the horse (the domed sfmctrrre wc see in thc iuust.atioD), and news of Alrxan.{er! taninil thchorse is slrbsequently brotrght tu Philip (ihe action in ihc nidcllc ground) ':.l'resurnab\' this additional information would be available b thc viewcr s'ho has either rcnd the text or $'ho listrns to the

iL,

'. '.'n .t ",,u- '.

Jclr'r.

s hrrJo"'lrtue"l r'rr EIr.'1

narrati\.e $'hilc looknlg at the Pictures Ofterr a.fions that t.ke placc over n rcl.tive\' narrolv period of time are. omblned in lvhat apPears at first glanca to be an illusfration of a sn181e monrcnt. W'e carl see this temporal laveinli in the illusfratbn on folio il9v (Iis. 8.7). ftc rubric k) tlte upPcr scene iclls us thaL ihc image clePi.ts the rcih ot Darius'wifc, mother and daughter to Alcxander's lettct'zr For
th'e scenc belo*', ihc rubric states that Alexandcr t{rote !o his mother,

Ol)'mpias, .rsking hcr to send him the thints necessarv for his lvcdding'::

6 iT

!.\,eri tilir-dbQo. nqoc

.ll\rnno! dn.,^0d\', ,idt(t. rot rirt\9i! ir

aniOi,\Lni,)!onkf!!iIr.ro,.i,^i'in.rnrlrib.\f!irovrAo0ufonokrDfLrr(N, kd(ix!u(r Kdl dirti..'

'6. kilr'ltFaroetii i)( d! rrr! $1oLit!i,.1.' !

rr'dn,\,'ld,\'ni.piiLrnoi.iqnr\OoD.x?rlofonotl0'l\1i'(on.oadad |'I,

6tu F.\'oi r'il

llo!k ii ador

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']lr Von l.tletstel4 cll., Da gtit.llisLlr Al$anL\itu,t,, 44, vv 8 18 " riitill,rppn rrl< pvtlo.oc nde.iot, rii fLltaoq Mi {iq rq! LrDl'lrlo< riijloi) nrtos ri{ila!l!( )\' ro! pdo,\ad' ,i ,..rq,ll'r bi rditdvbqo( Kdi ri. r't! Ffrarl.r drlrou olL,pnkibd toi ri noorr t\dr dr,rii, r,i rtos iri4noidv r(iN )'d!n)r d|ro')'

t52

H]SloRY AS LIIIITATLRf

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I]\'ZA\TIUN,I

The Llpper scerlc sho(,s the ihn:e lromen sciilrl on the riilhi. Olrtsidc rhe pal.rce wall trvo mcn ipproa.h; o.e h.rnds .r htt.r Lo . thlrd figurc nr front of him. This letter is thcn shos. to the thrc $onren by n fourth figurc. Wiihin the palacc, thc ihrcc !vom{\r.:lictate a r.pl\ to .r scrlbe sitthg at thcir feet. The letter is thcn han.led tlr n messenser. nho sets off togethcr w h another figure b dcli\(rr the lett.rr on the iar ifil A sLmilrr scene occu.s nr ihe lower reilistcr whcrc lexander recei\ ei the letir irom Darius'famil),, lhen dictates and dispatchrs a letier tLr his moiher. These illustrations repeal onry the figures that arc nr(,1ins. in this crse the rnessengers. The same messeniler appears h\ ice, on& tre'ng disp.rt.hrd, ancl a second time

scttin:l off on his journev. Ale\rl-]der.nd ihe th.cc ('omn appear only once, aj1d so seen to bc.loing thr thulq: sim lianeouslv receiving a letter, dictatint a rcpl1, ancl LlilFrt.l1xlg ii n ith . nressenger. The result is a complex sccnc thii ma\imiTes ihe nrinbe. of monents depicted wh ile majntainint an c.ononl\ oi h su re: At thc sanre tirne, movement is suggested by the repeatel:l hsrre oi the nressenger, whom ihc vnrlver's eye would follo while listening to a dc:.FFiion oi th varbus actbns.

Pcrhaps ihe most compelllng i.mpor.l device enrploycd in rhe illusirations invohes the usc oi fup$ie.j iisLrres that may cvc. overlap Lo suggest physical m(^ cmclt. O. io r.r l ltir (fig. E.8) Alcxander, no nr ' Tndi,r, consults t\!(r oracxl;r .vp.r.s ire: on how many ycals he has vet to live. We see hin ai the ia. lelt $ iilr hi> .ompanbns, thor consultin8 vvith a priesi, and i thir.l time as h.' kncclj jliBhih and places his han.l oD onc ol ih.r irees. Three olerlapprng ri$!r.s oa.\le\ander move ffon lcft to right, pcrfonring lhe rarratj\ e The rrpehbon oia Igure within a framc in or.lcr to accommodat a ierji oi a.h.n. is not uncommon h Byz:ntine rnanu scripls.r' I Io$'\'er, the.'\ieni nr h hi.h ihis c]-"\'icc is uscd in Cr. 5 is not seen elservhere. C)f'n, ihe rep.iiiiLin ot iigures has bccn anlplified to lcp.esent nronrents so closeLr felrtrd jn iinre ns to producc thc cffect of ovcrlaid filnr stills. This almost .inemahc Ltu.lit| of the illustratiorls lvould be activatcd b)' ihr oral periornr.ln.e oi the nir r.ii!e, the figures viewcd as

rl,om|'cl. i'

I:'

Onc of thc more d\r.1rni. instan.ei {]i thii ..ting out of the nar.rativc .an bc sccD o. folio 76r (Fig. !'.9r. n hrfu \le\.nder makes his cscipc.fter

tsl-.'

infilirating Darius'camp m dirgLrjit Thc nrbric to the Lrppcr rcgister dc'scribes a series oi actions: '1h\in.j renrored his god-likc costurne, Ale\an.lcr put or Persi.n .lress ln.1 iiiknrg the sentry on thc hcad, hc

t3

This mthod is used, io.

oi lh. Cr*trrr ?l?.,q"r/t,v.a C,)inui liliinlleu+es (Ron,c \hL Cr 699). Iriul appears lour umes ii the ..ere oi hii .ofr.r:ilr. {tnlio 63!): ililnessint the ightling lrom he.vn, fallins ni hir In.r: ila,rinr.: ir.ntilly, lnd bcin8 lcd to r)amascus. K. lveitzm.nn, lllrrirrii,'ir :i, rlfrr i'1. a\N):: A Shdv of th. Orrgrt n !1 M.thodtrf tGt lllrstrutlut (l'rilcetdr. \1. l9. Lr) fl \\\l\,110.

inii!n..

rn

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ot thc performance.} Lct us also not forget rhe ta.ing frontispiecc portraits ofAtexandcr anct thc rmperor that,l ar.gue, origina y opcnect the book and, in a likeljhoo.t, prescnted thcrn engagcd in dialogue. As well as amplifying rhe r.lationship

theturbv Luriiing empcrorand nnperiat model nr the srnrbotic titerart.;pace

tcxi pagc and do not .lh.r),s have nbrjcs, making ir neccssar), to reac:l the n(omparly'nil tert.s well as look .rt ihe pichres.r, Wheth$ or lrot crplicft compudson $,as rnnde i\i!h thc empcror, thc pcrrormarcc of thc rext bcfore him, both vcrbatly and visualiy, woutcl bc a highly chargcd'narrative even| that lvolrtd invite idenrificaiiotr of thc crnpelor r\.ith Akxandcr, nrsoibing ttrc pasi onto thc presenr.r Rurh LIn;.rrr.nrrr"-o,,.iIrr p,r. nEi.n,.r .,: -, pfir,,.vJ.rdrFr ,, n.,) b. il, .rl, ".1,r. 'lrep.trn. r.svpr nrF.rni rS IJ-h,,,bvr.r.h J,r.rdrln.. .l rl,-F r.r,, r r JLri q l-i. ltt, i-roF,.t,.Fr,, ,.,n,. tr JJdrrior qLit, h. 1.. ol r,. clrr. b,.n,.,rrp,*pJ tri... eJr ,..r^,,irr01. n^ru,.r to creatc a Blznntine Alcxnnder a. ring in a Bvznntine jmperiat setthg, lhe lelling oI tho sior_v or.tt)-could have further rccentuaied these aslects,

rilurlrc.dinilsandr..ihrions'thntmakL.nu.jtcstsonresctoflul(limefralv.tr.s TIL Arthrc|0tt\q ofrerrt,rrlir.c (New york,1988), 24-\ R lji.l-lq'l gdf,.h tt: sNdt,tu, sirnifi.ot. drd-son,rc,,r(,rr(cambridse, ...__ 1977) tept. 1t)92),227. While th. te\t of Cr. i is not wri ei in i,erse, l,inne;rn ars: n*e..n:dl:l,ar ol nrostrv prose bcins recired f,om nemor.v, s;ch :lar]pres .! thc Trrkish nil. rf /).d. K.rkuL: Onn ptLry,1jt). tor; vcrsnn oi the rltcrra,irr Knrr.. in vcrse see thc fourteenlh cenrury Mar.i.ni c.. 408: S. ltciLrhnr.nn. ed., Dat by.a ttuilcht ,\Lraad.r.{.dxrt (\,L.isenheim dm Cl.u, 1963). for r.ferenccs n) )linL.rlnt rrct perlomd.s nr Tr.biz(nrd scc the TrapeTlnriic horos.op. of jt36: | .i "l ?t1n I ioNrLa .( )v .iqo( t (jn&v,, 40, 42, 4,1, ,r5, .16. 'nbros, ! E\ampl-"! oI this typc otnarrativ. fl.\ibiIiq.(a{ be f(und h primar).oral . cullu.es (.ulltres $.ilh tu knoatdse oti,ritinit). As Ru[r rinncgan nircs I.iih rhe 5lnjata epjc ln $'est Air].., e.ch performcr ijdapred tris ve$i; nr rhc sit!.tion L 'l ,h Ip .{ '...i r. .r, tp.., : o.,.un.

th. Mtin6o ipt. .f tht S.pt! n,\int, U: Tht Bv2rn ! tL. Ocld.r.ts (PrinceltD, NJ, | 999).d 'r The Lcrm'Lrltural perfdnan.e, cortd .lso b. lred hefe nr fie sensc thit Vicnr Tuner !scs ft b designate 1tivs, conLtrts, !nd lccru.es... [bur].tso pr.,vers,

Tt( t).tatdr.tts: A sttuttt rn B!.inlttu Mrhtnrp! rthLsttntia .-. .' I a:'"i"l (Unircrsity P.rk, PN, 1992)r.nd 1( lveirmlm rn.l M. Bemabo, .Ir,. ;jl,/srr,r:rys

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\'\,:llu Ong sals s(,n.thi.g snnilar.bi)ur primin orat crlturcs in gencrtit: \:|.'']||ni''Jj'.1'|''n'|''ll'rl l 'r lr nl- " . , u r L l u . r ' . . . thr.ti.,F to bc ,nh oduc..l uique\' into a lniquc stru.tion ... praise pocms ot chiers;rvire
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