Images

The marble statue of the biblical figure King David by Michelangelo, 1501-1504 CE. The figure is much larger than life size, around 5.20 metres (17 feet) tall. (Academia Gallery, Florence)

A portrait bust of the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo (1475-1564 CE). The portrait is the work of Daniele da Volterra (1509-1566 CE), created c. 1564 CE. (Bargello, Florence)

The city of Mystras (or Mistras) in southern Greece was the provincial capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea from the 13th through the 15th centuries CE. The Cathedral of St. Demetrios was built in the second half of the 13th century...

George Gemistos Plethon, painting by Benozzo Gozzoli, 1459-1461 CE. Palazzo Medici, Florence. George Gemistos Plethon was a leading philosophic thinker of his day. He moved to Mystras around 1407 CE, where he could more freely express...

Mystras in southern Greece was the provincial capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea from the 13th through the 15th centuries CE. It was primarily known for its churches, which, with the exception of the occasional added belfry...

The city of Mystras (or Mistras) in Southern Greece was the provincial capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea from the 13th through the 15th centuries CE.

A statue of Francis I of France (r. 1515-1547 CE) in Cognac, France. The French king was born in the town in 1494 CE.

Constantine XI Palaiologos, the Despot of the Morea (r. 1443-1449 CE) and the last Byzantine emperor (r. 1449-1453 CE) History of John Zonaras, Mutinensis gr.122, f.294r, Biblioteca Estense Universitaria, Modena

Byzantine Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos (r. 1347-1354 CE) presiding over a synod. The Hesychast Council of Constantinople, 1351 CE. Constantinople, 1370-75 CE, paint on parchment, Greek Manuscript 1242, fol.5 v, 33,5x24 cm. Bibliothèque...

Byzantine castle of Mystras, Greece. Mystras was the capital of the Despotate of the Morea. The castle was built by William II of Villehardouin, Prince of Achaea (r. 1246-1278 CE).