Kainourgion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kainourgion was a palantine hall built by Emperor Basil I from 867-886. Covered in mosaics to glorify the Macedonian dynasty, the Kainourgion depicted Basil's military victories and functioned as an imperial palace with audience chamber, a dining room, and connected bedrooms.
Built from 867-886, the Kainourgion is considered one of Basil's most important constructions,[1] and contained a dome at the eastern end, with sixteen columns supporting the main hall.[2] Above each column, the wall extending up to the dome was covered in mosaics.[2] Each column, of which there were sixteen,[3] was made of different materials and their surfaces consisted of different articulations.[2] There were no galleries over the aisles since mosaics were depicted from ceiling to floor.[4] The Kainourgion was built to function as an audience chamber and dining room for banquets, along with private bedrooms.[4]
Vita Basilii
The Vita Basilii, "life of Basil", is somewhat obscure as to the design of the Kainourgion,[2] mentioning it only as the "New Building".[1] It was located somewhere between the Marcian's Galleries and the Chrysotriklinos on a terrace approximately 11 meters above sea level.[4]
The dome of the Kainourgion depicted military victories by Emperor Basil and his generals,[5] while the ceiling of the bedchamber portrayed Basil as the new David.[6] The floor mosaics of the bedchamber contained peacocks and eagles, while the wall mosaic illustrated the Emperor, Empress Eudocia and their children along with an inscription giving thanks to god.[7][5] The entire bedchamber was a celebration of the Macedonian dynasty.[8]
De Cerimoniis
According to the De Ceremoniis, the empress's bedchamber lay in close proximity to the Kainourgion.[4] Emperor Constantine VII stated, that one wall of the Kainourgion contained multicolored glass plaques, which were made to resemble shapes and colors of different flowers.[9]