Byzantium at the Met

The previous post deals with the Eastern Mediterranean in the twenty-first century. But to understand the significance of its subject (the Turk-Greek rapprochement), a little historical knowledge is necessary. Some of that can be acquired painlessly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City viewing a stunning new exhibit, "Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261 - 1557)," which I toured Sunday afternoon. Since this blog deals principally with politics and democracy rather than art history, I'll simply urge you to see it before it closes on July 4.

Notable, however, is the absence of politically correct interpretation in the exhibit's accompanying texts. This is all the more remarkable since Byzantium was in its heyday an imperial power -- the new Rome, no less -- and the seat of massive missionary activities to the Slavs and the Black Sea area. To boot, the art on display is almost entirely sacred, as one would expect. Perhaps the age of the works, coupled with the exotic nature of Byzantium and the excellence of the Met's staff, spared us this round. But as I say, get to the Met before Independence Day.