Monster Duels in Byzantine Polemological Tradition of X-XIV Centuries

The article is dedicated to a common theme in Byzantine literature, with a particular focus on descriptions of battles between warriors and monsters. According to the authors, the reworking of stories about hunting large predators from ancient mythology is characteristic of the Byzantine and partial...

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Main Authors: K. R. Kapsalykova, A. G. Nesterov
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Tsentr nauchnykh i obrazovatelnykh proektov 2023-06-01
Series:Научный диалог
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.nauka-dialog.ru/jour/article/view/4625
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author K. R. Kapsalykova
A. G. Nesterov
author_facet K. R. Kapsalykova
A. G. Nesterov
author_sort K. R. Kapsalykova
collection DOAJ
description The article is dedicated to a common theme in Byzantine literature, with a particular focus on descriptions of battles between warriors and monsters. According to the authors, the reworking of stories about hunting large predators from ancient mythology is characteristic of the Byzantine and partially Western European military traditions from the 10th to 14th centuries. The authors argue that the ideas of rational warfare permeated not only strict military manuals but also hagiographical literature, historical chronicles, heroic epics, and other narratives. Therefore, the incorporation of the archetypal plot of ‘fighting monsters’ into military settings is at the center of this study. The authors demonstrate that ancient battle stories had no place in the strict orders of real actions by regular armies. The article introduces materials from M. Y. Suzyumov’s personal archive into scientific circulation and draws on sigillography data. The article shows that in medieval texts, such short but intense clashes between two opponents are interpreted not only as entertainment or instruction but also in a philosophical sense as an embodiment of the eternal struggle between good and evil.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2225-756X
2227-1295
language Russian
publishDate 2023-06-01
publisher Tsentr nauchnykh i obrazovatelnykh proektov
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series Научный диалог
spelling doaj-art-51b7ebdb08c14a718cefccf2615c04952025-08-25T18:13:30ZrusTsentr nauchnykh i obrazovatelnykh proektovНаучный диалог2225-756X2227-12952023-06-0112544346110.24224/2227-1295-2023-12-5-443-4612507Monster Duels in Byzantine Polemological Tradition of X-XIV CenturiesK. R. Kapsalykova0A. G. Nesterov1Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B.N. YeltsinUral Federal University named after the First President of Russia B.N. YeltsinThe article is dedicated to a common theme in Byzantine literature, with a particular focus on descriptions of battles between warriors and monsters. According to the authors, the reworking of stories about hunting large predators from ancient mythology is characteristic of the Byzantine and partially Western European military traditions from the 10th to 14th centuries. The authors argue that the ideas of rational warfare permeated not only strict military manuals but also hagiographical literature, historical chronicles, heroic epics, and other narratives. Therefore, the incorporation of the archetypal plot of ‘fighting monsters’ into military settings is at the center of this study. The authors demonstrate that ancient battle stories had no place in the strict orders of real actions by regular armies. The article introduces materials from M. Y. Suzyumov’s personal archive into scientific circulation and draws on sigillography data. The article shows that in medieval texts, such short but intense clashes between two opponents are interpreted not only as entertainment or instruction but also in a philosophical sense as an embodiment of the eternal struggle between good and evil.https://www.nauka-dialog.ru/jour/article/view/4625byzantiummonster duelshistoriographynikephoros ouranospolemologydragonsigillography
spellingShingle K. R. Kapsalykova
A. G. Nesterov
Monster Duels in Byzantine Polemological Tradition of X-XIV Centuries
Научный диалог
byzantium
monster duels
historiography
nikephoros ouranos
polemology
dragon
sigillography
title Monster Duels in Byzantine Polemological Tradition of X-XIV Centuries
title_full Monster Duels in Byzantine Polemological Tradition of X-XIV Centuries
title_fullStr Monster Duels in Byzantine Polemological Tradition of X-XIV Centuries
title_full_unstemmed Monster Duels in Byzantine Polemological Tradition of X-XIV Centuries
title_short Monster Duels in Byzantine Polemological Tradition of X-XIV Centuries
title_sort monster duels in byzantine polemological tradition of x xiv centuries
topic byzantium
monster duels
historiography
nikephoros ouranos
polemology
dragon
sigillography
url https://www.nauka-dialog.ru/jour/article/view/4625
work_keys_str_mv AT krkapsalykova monsterduelsinbyzantinepolemologicaltraditionofxxivcenturies
AT agnesterov monsterduelsinbyzantinepolemologicaltraditionofxxivcenturies