Судан и Большой Ближний Восток

305 Vassilios Christides The Cycle of the Arab-Byzantine Struggle in Crete (ca 824/6– 961 AD) in the Illuminated Manuscript of Skylitzes (CodexMatritensis Graecus Vitr. 26–2) 1 Abstract . Few comprehensive studies concerning the Emirate of Crete (ca 824/6–961) have been written. Our knowledge of this frontier state, which can be compared to that of Sicily, is inade­ quate mainly because of limited relevant archaeological evidence 2 1 This is an amended version of the article published in Graeco-Arabica XI, 2011 (The Institute for Graeco-Oriental and African Studies, theMunicipality of Heraklion and Vikelaia Library; Heraklion, Crete). 2 For the Emirate of Crete in general, see mainly: N. Panagiotakis, Θεοδόσιος ο Διάκονος και το ποίημα αυτού ‘Άλωσις της Κρήτης’ , Heraklion 1960; V. Christides, The Conquest of Crete by the Arabs (ca. 824). A Turning Point in the Struggle between Byzantium and Islam , Athens 1984; idem, “Five Notes on the Emirate of Crete”, in The Image of Cyprus in the Arabic Sources,