Dimitra Sikalidou is a PhD candidate in Byzantine Archaeology and Art at AUTh. Her PhD project is entitled “Consideration of Methodologies Applied and Historic Interpretation in the Study of Palaiologan Church Architecture.” Through the redating of prominent case studies, Sikalidou aims to revise the history of Palaiologan architecture by approaching buildings as a social expression in a specific historical context. By highlighting erroneous conclusions caused by the use of notable methodological tools (e.g., architectural “schools”/evolutionary theory of typology), Sikalidou suggests that Palaiologan architecture is much more diverse than what is usually accepted.
Her analysis is not limited to the examination of structure and morphology but is holistic. It includes the study of historical evidence (inscriptions and sources) and a set of factors (sculpture, iconography, the significance of buildings related to their loci) which enhance the spatial experience. Through this approach, Sikalidou provides an alternative interpretation of architecture, stressing the importance of patrons and their particular agendas in the complicated historical circumstances after 1261.
For her dissertation, Sikalidou has been awarded the Tsagada Award of “Excellent Performance,” an Academic Excellence and two Erasmus+ Scholarships (Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz/GABAM) by Aristotle University, and the W.D.E. Coulson & Toni Cross Aegean Fellowship by ARIT.
Fellow’s End of the Academic Year Research Report
During the 2023–2024 academic year, I had the privilege to be a PhD fellow at ANAMED. This invaluable opportunity provided me with the ideal environment and the necessary time and resources to advance my doctoral research towards its completion. The title of my thesis is “Consideration of Methodologies Applied and Historic Interpretation in the Study of Palaiologan Church Architecture.”
Thesis Framework
My dissertation project aims to reframe the political and social narrative of Late Byzantium by examining it through the lenses of religious architecture. I focus particularly on issues of sponsorship and dating to illuminate aspects of cultural diversity, religious interactions, and political agendas between different groups and individuals in a fragmented historical reality.
Established methodologies focusing on form and style ascribe Palaiologan architecture as the end of an evolutionary and linear process. This teleology treats architectural production as a unified entity, neglecting the attested and multilevel socio-historical complexity of the period. It further disassociates architecture from its users, regarding religious buildings as abstract and static art objects. Moreover, it is usually expected that all buildings of the era share the complex features of Constantinopolitan monasteries like Pammakaristos, Chora, and Lips. Recent studies suggest that over 40 churches, previously attributed to earlier periods due to their apparent simplicity, should be reevaluated within the Palaiologan era. These studies offer a new opportunity to re-contextualize well-known churches within a historical and political context, much later than their suggested construction.
Building upon these, I propose a comprehensive reassessment of nine churches in present-day Greece, Türkiye, Albania, and Bulgaria which have previously been assigned to earlier periods to recontextualize architectural practices as part of the cultural amalgamation of Late Byzantium. This endeavor seeks to reveal the diversity and complexity of Late Byzantine religious architecture, which mirrors the multileveled fragmentation of the period, as a cultural product of the specific sociopolitical and religious dynamics of the period. To achieve this, I scrutinize both Constantinople and its hinterlands, examining the central authority’s architectural language while exploring regional expressions and their connection to the capital and other centers.
Two distinct chapters are devoted to the thesis: one focusing on Constantinople, the empire’s pivotal center and capital, while the other examines architectural developments in the surrounding regions. Two specific buildings, Atik Mustafa Pasa Camii in Istanbul and the church commonly known as Hagia Sophia in Vize, serve as case studies in each respective chapter, helping to elaborate my discussion. Although they are usually considered as buildings of the Middle Byzantine period, several constructional elements and architectural particularities, when discussed in a broader framework taking into account sufficient historic data, strongly suggest a later date. Through the analysis of these examples, I aim to highlight the flaws inherent in prevailing methodologies, which have resulted in a distorted portrayal of Byzantine architectural history. This misrepresentation significantly affects and, in essence, shapes the perception of Late Byzantine architecture, “Byzantium’s least understood chapter,”[i] as Slobodan Ćurčić once underlined.
Working in ANAMED
Being based in Istanbul allowed me to conduct important work towards the conclusion of these two chapters. The dynamic academic environment of Istanbul offered numerous avenues for exploration. Access to specialized libraries proved invaluable in augmenting my research efforts.[ii] Τhe extensive collection of studies related to the Palaiologan period (especially monographs regarding the last Byzantine emperors but also broader studies such as those of Runciman dedicated to Mystras) was of significant help for my work. I was able to collect useful bibliography and to consult certain publications while writing my texts. The privilege of accessing ANAMED’s library 24/7, in particular, was an asset that significantly increased my productivity, allowing me to finish several parts of the writing process.
On-site Visits
Beyond the libraries, my first focus was on examining the architectural features of Constantinopolitan buildings dating to the Palaiologan period. Residing in the city for a significant amount of time gave me the opportunity to perform multiple on-site visits on a constant basis, to photograph and document buildings. The time spent surveying the monuments and their environs helped me reflect on their architectural history. Especially since most of the buildings under discussion are being constantly used and sometimes undergoing restorations, documenting the potential interventions and changes has been proven particularly important. I was able to make useful observations for possible construction phases, decorative elements, and forms that I have incorporated in one of the relevant chapters of my thesis.
Interacting with local archaeologists and researchers during these visits sparked fruitful conversations, enhancing my research efforts. I had the opportunity to discuss my ideas with several of them on-site during walking tours that my co-Byzantine-fellows and I organized, with the great help of David Hendrix, whom I thank for his unwavering enthusiasm in guiding us around on several occasions. The exchanged opinions and thoughts broadened my knowledge on several topics, and engaging with Turkish scholars also provided valuable insights into recent restoration projects and literature not widely known or acknowledged.
Fig. 1. On-site Visit, Kariye Camii (Chora Monastery), December 2023.
Archival Research
During the period of the fellowship, I have systematically studied the photographic archive of the German Archaeological Institute (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut/DAI) regarding buildings of interest for my research. Some of them serve as case studies for my doctoral thesis, while the rest will be used as parallel examples for comparisons. The institution’s warm hospitality and the gracious assistance of Alkiviadis Ginalis played an integral role in facilitating my research endeavors.
During multiple visits, I delved into their rich collection, meticulously taking notes and securing permissions to include select photographs, some dating back to the early 1900s, in my final dissertation. These visuals complement my on-site surveys, greatly enriching my research.
Exploring these archives revealed invaluable insights into the architectural transformations of various buildings, previously overlooked. This process deepened my understanding of specific structures and prompted critical re-evaluations, broadening the scope of my study, and at the same time bringing my attention to new inquiries for potential future research.
Field Trips
In addition to my work in Istanbul, I made use of opportunities to conduct field trips. I visited Vize twice to address specific questions that arose while writing a relevant chapter. Furthermore, with the support of the research budget provided by ANAMED, I organized a research trip spanning from Ankara to Konya, with a particular focus on sites such as Bin Bir Kilise and Alahan Monastery in northern Cilicia. This journey allowed me to gather essential information on the architectural traditions of both Christian and Muslim communities in central Anatolia. These excursions provided valuable comparative material and enriched the interdisciplinary nature of my research.
Fig. 2. Field Trip, Kızıl Kilise, Sivrihisar, April 2024.
The perks of collaboration
Last, but not least, I was lucky to co-exist with such a vibrant cohort of researchers at ANAMED. The collaborative opportunities were invaluable to my academic journey. Working alongside talented scholars in such a friendly and research-driven environment expanded my skill set and allowed me to advance my interdisciplinary approach significantly.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my co-fellow Dr. Jessica Varsallona for engaging in numerous discussions with me on matters concerning the architecture of Palaiologan Constantinople. Having someone within the same fellowship program working on the same topic has been of immense benefit to me, and I have greatly appreciated our exchanges. Thanks also to Dr. Max Ritter for orchestrating the regular ANAMED Byzantine group meetings, a friendly environment for scholarly exchange.
I further owe a debt of gratitude to my co-fellows Kyle Brunner and Tyler Wolford for their initiatives in organizing a GIS course, which enabled me to enhance my ability to construct elevation maps. These maps will visually enhance the narrative of my research, replacing outdated maps from older publications. They will further highlight important aspects of architectural projects, such as the placement of religious complexes within both urban and landscape contexts. In addition, with the help of my colleague Dr. Hasan Baran Fırat, I explored the possibilities of incorporating 3D modeling to better visualize the different architectural phases of the buildings under discussion.
Moreover, during my fellowship, I had the privilege of presenting my research on two occasions. Firstly, Prof. Ivana Jevtic graciously invited me to her course at Koç University, ARHA 318—Late Antique and Byzantine Art, in January of 2024. Secondly, I was honored to be invited by Prof. Bilge Ar to present at the İTÜ Mimarlik Tarihi Gezi Notlari Seminerleri (a talk scheduled after the completion of this report). I am deeply thankful to both for their support and generous invitations. These experiences not only allowed me to refine my presentation skills but also significantly bolstered the visibility of my research among audiences closely connected to my field.
Through these interactions, and countless others I may not have the space to elaborate on, I have forged strong academic bonds with researchers from various backgrounds and countries. This invaluable experience has significantly influenced my academic thinking and growth.
None of the above would have been possible without the support of this fellowship. I will be forever grateful that I had this opportunity, and I sincerely believe that it has certainly shaped my academic development. As a final remark, I am excited to announce that I have been granted a Dumbarton Oaks Summer Research Fellowship to continue my research and to sincerely thank my co-fellows who contributed significantly with their valuable comments and feedback.
[i] Slobodan Curcic, “Religious Settings of the Late Byzantine Sphere,” In Byzantium. Faith and power (1261-1557). Catalogue (2004): 65.
[ii] Among these are the ANAMED Runciman, Ćurčić, Maguire & Maguire special collections, the Semavi Eyice collection at the Istanbul Research Institute (IAE), the Byzantine collection “Dr. H. Kenneth Snipes” of the American Research Institute of Turkey (ARIT), the German and French Institutes’ libraries and archives, the library of the Faculty of Architecture at İTÜ, and the libraries and digital collections of SALT.