There was a time seven centuries ago when Famagustas wealth and renown could be compared to that of Venice or Constantinople. The Cathedral of St Nicholas in the main square of Famagusta; serving as the coronation place for the Crusader Kings of Jerusalem after the fall of Acre in 1291; symbolised both the sophistication and permanence of the French society that built it. From the port radiated impressive commercial activity with the major Mediterranean trade centres; generating legendary wealth; cosmopolitanism; and hedonism; unsurpassed in the Levant. These halcyon days were not to last; however; and a 15th century observer noted that; following the Genoese occupation of the city; a malignant devil has become jealous of Famagusta. When Venice inherited the city; it reconstructed the defences and had some success in revitalising the citys economy. But the end for Venetian Famagusta came in dramatic fashion in 1571; following a year long siege by the Ottomans. Three centuries of neglect followed which; combined with earthquakes; plague and flooding; left the city in ruins. The essays collected in this book represent a major contribution to the study of Medieval and Renaissance Famagusta and its surviving art and architecture and also propose a series of strategies for preserving the citys heritage in the future. They will be of particular interest to students and scholars of Gothic; Byzantine and Renaissance art and architecture; and to those of the Crusades and the Latin East; as well as the Military Orders. After an introductory chapter surveying the history of Famagusta and its position in the cultural mosaic that is the Eastern Mediterranean; the opening section provides a series of insights into the history and historiography of the city. There follow chapters on the churches and their decoration; as well as the military architecture; while the final section looks at the history of conservation efforts and assesses the work that now needs to be done.
2016-08-22 2016-08-22File Name: B01MZ235A2
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