Abstract
X. SUMMARY Constantinople which was shifted as the capital of Roman Empire by Constantine the great in the year 330 A.D. had shown a great progress »become an important commercial, art, religion and cul tural centre. After the abolishing of western Roman Empire in the ye ar 476 A.D.,J£astern Roman Empire that means Byzantion had created a large civilization until the year 1453 A.D.,the year in which Turks captured the city. Byzantion jewellery which was especially dominated by Hel lenistic and Romans until bth century had been disillusioned and fo und its own speciality and Christian motifs had been replaced in stead of pagan culture and pleasure. In this period, civilization of Byzantion had been dealt with the sasani and Kop t arts of iSgypt.The ornaments which were made of most magnificient, precious, half -valuable jewels, pearls »golds and silvers had been used quite often in this pe riod, i'he wall pictures which reflect the prosperity of 6th century shows the Empress Theodora and the people in her service which is now in the Church of San vitale in Ravenna and mosaic panel. The tradition of giving the bride marriage belt, crescent formed ear ring at the weddings had been very common after 6th century and las ted upto the last Byzantion period. Besides, the tradition of using a marriage ring which had been begun in the Roman Period carried on with a widespread in the period of Byzantion and finally formed in to the rings we use today. The enameled technic of Byzantion had made a great progress in the period which followed the completion of Iko- noklosian Ornaments and the properties of the churches had been deco rated with this technic. The ikonoklaslan period between 726 A.D. and 842 A.D. had badly influenced the art of jewellery ^as it did the same in any kinds of the art) and a hesitation term had covered the Empire. Inflations had been begun in Byzantion after loth century and as the result of this the usage of gold was reduced. Gold had been measured as the second material which connected the precious and half- valuable jewellery and the pearls each other. in those days non-stop attacking of the Arabian and Germen tribes had forced Byzantion en ter in a difficult position. with the good relationships among South Russia and ualkanic Slavs had shown influences on the art of jewelle ry in the ölayic Byzantion. -112-Between the years 1204 and 1261, XY.Jji.vasion of Crusaders had corrupted the economy of Byzantion and all the works which had been created on the soil of Byzantion taken to Europe. In this last brilliant period of Byzantion »the soils of which had been shrunk and surrounded by the Turks, had been used ornaments made of cheap metals like bronze and of glass-bracelets for the public. It is certain that Byzantion jewellery the roots of which were extended to 3ooo B.C. and had a history of a thousand year seems to influence the jewellery of Seljuk in the last periods of which was out of the century and later the Ottomans in large numbers. The art of Byzantion, especially a Christian art which was created in Anatolia. Except for the Turks it has influenced the jewel lery of Russia, Balkan and European countries. A very large number of the samples of the ornaments are present at the Dumbarton Oaks Collection in Washington, at the Metropo litan Museum in New York, at the British Museum in.London, at the.Louv re Museum in Paris and at the National Museum in Budapest and besides in a lot of private collections and museums. The techmc which had been widely used in ornaments are, Ajur (Opus înterrassile;, Niello, Embossing, Stamping »Curettage »Embossing of precious jewellery, liligre, Granule and Enameled. Ear-rings which were the widely loved ornament in Byzantion usually the style of crescent and hook were prefered so much. And it was also used, the ring, ear-ring with pendants crescent shaped having ear-rings, simple rounded and chained ear-rings. Itis also seemed mono- grammed stamp.engagement rings and ornamented rings. Belt buckles are very common.So,itJ-is understood that both the women and the men had used belt buckles on their clothes. There have also been some fibulas buckles used to attach the cloaks on the right shoulder. The crucifix-shaped reliquary and amulets which were used in attaching the chains ware the mysterious ornaments believed to bring good luck and save them of the omens. Besides there have been some necklaces only used as the in ornaments. Bracelets generally us ed simple round and convolution types. Especially bracelets made of glass are very common. The ornaments made of money and Cameo had been lived in Byzantion us the continuity of Hellenistic art. -103-Some Byzantine treasures have been found all in som# pla ces. The Byzantine materials and ornaments found in 1973 at the time of the extension of the museum buildings in Cyprus, Egypt »Sicily and the istanbul Archaelogical Museum increase our knowledge on this subject. -104-
