Судан и Большой Ближний Восток

321 Vassilios Christides. The Cycle of the Arab-Byzantine Struggle in Crete... Photeinos, general of the Anatolikōn, andDamianus, chief of the royal cavalry. 1 The exact dating of this Byzantine expedition and the number of the warships which were mobilized cannot be easily determined. Based on all available evidence in a thorough study, Ch. Makrypoulias dated this expedition sometime ca 825–826, immediately after the Arabs landed on Crete and before they completed their conquest. 2 Concerning the number of the ships of the fleet of this expedition and its weaponry, nothing is known since Skylitzes’ vague statement “μετά πολλης δυνάμεως και παρασκευης” (strong naval power and preparation) should not be taken at its face value. 3 The painter of Sk. M., in just one illumination, condensed the two scenes of the Arab-Byzantine expedition, i. e. the landing of the Byzantine fleet and the ensuing battle in which the Byzantine general Damianus was killed and the Byzantines were defeated (fig. 39v, top). Such double events described in a single miniature are not rare in the illustrated manuscript. The illustrators of the Byzantine manuscript often tried in such cases to paint a smooth decorative dividing line between the two scenes arranged in the same space and simultaneously to link the two scenes with certain common elements in order to clarify the consecutive action of the two scenes. 4 The painter of the above-mentioned illumination made no effort to draw a subtle dividing line; instead, he drew a crude line over the Byzantine warships under the heading “Rōmaioi” (Romans) and portrayed the Arab-Byzantine battle on the right side, which covers most of the space of the illumination. Byzantines and Arabs are clad in identical military attire and over the head of the latter the word “Krētes” (Cretans) was written. It is only of particular importance that the Arabs appear equipped with very small round shields. Such shields were called “ ṣ aghīra ” (small), and were made of leather and 1 Skylitzes, Thurn, 43, 54–58. 2 Makrypoulias, “Byzantine Expeditions against the Emirate of Crete c. 825–949”, 350. 3 Thurn, 43, 59. 4 For example, see Christides, “From the Cycle ‘The Conquest and Occupation of Crete by the Arabs’ in Skyltizes’ Illuminations: A Naval Battle and the Execution of General Crateros”, 57.