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Perceptions and Interpretations of Natural Disasters during the Transition from the East Roman to the Byzantine Empire

Fakultät für Geschichtswissenschaft und Philosophie, University of Bielefeld, Germany

During the sixth century the relevance of natural disasters, well known phenomena in Antiquity, underwent a change. As common chronological systems had calculated the end of the world to come about around 500 AD, the long series of natural disasters which occurred from the beginning of the sixth century onwards was interpreted as a sign of that approaching end. In a context of strong eschatological expectations and together with the fact that the imminent end of the world did not take place, ongoing natural dis asters assumed important implications for the process of transition from the East Roman to the Byzantine Empire. Older, well known and widely disseminated chronological systems came to lose validity and new systems developed. In common perceptions, the powers of famous Holy Men had obviously failed as they were unable to prevent major disasters. Hence the search for new objects of worship: the rapid diffusion of the cults of Christ, the Virgin and of the saints. The worship of these intercessors was practised through images, marking the beginning of the famous Byzantine cult of icons. Gradually the functions of the Holy Men underwent a change: formerly intercessors with God, now they intervened between the emperor and his subjects as the emperor himsclf assumed an amplified religious aura in order to place himself above and beyond the new and severe Kaiserkritik, one more consequence of the natural disasters of the sixth century.

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