| The Byzantine Empire, also popular as the Eastern | | | | took place in Constantinople. However, mosaics are |
| Roman Empire, lasted for 2000 years approximately. | | | | still found in large ensembles in Greece (Salonica and |
| People also called it as 'Constantine's city' after the | | | | Nicaea) and Italy (Ravenna). |
| Emperor made it the capital of the Roman Empire. | | | | Coins: The Byzantines were the first to make coins |
| Later, it became one of the world's most cultured | | | | with the face of Jesus on them. On the other side of |
| and richest cities. During this period, art and | | | | these coins, the image of the Byzantine Emperor |
| architecture flourished and a wide range of Byzantine | | | | was engraved. It was thought that these images |
| antiquities were made. | | | | signify that the divine and secular orders govern the |
| Byzantine art retained its inheritance even after it | | | | law together. Commemorative coins were also |
| was conquered by the Turks in 1453. However, a | | | | introduced to the world by the Byzantines. Further, |
| mass destruction of the allegorical art works | | | | they minted an array of coins to honor the members |
| disrupted these artistic activities during the | | | | of the Byzantine military. |
| Iconoclastic controversy. In 1204, the Frankish | | | | Jewelry: The jewelry made by the Byzantines |
| Crusaders looted the city of its charm. It was under | | | | reflected their intrinsic love for Christ. Byzantine chain |
| the Paleologus dynasty, and later on, that Byzantine | | | | and necklaces showing the Cross were very famous. |
| art bloomed again. | | | | Sterling silver Byzantine jewelry bore the images of |
| Popular Byzantine Antiquities | | | | Christ, Mary and angels. These were also studded |
| The famous Byzantine antiquities include the following: | | | | with precious stones. Geometric, floral and faunal |
| Mosaic: Mosaic decoration was among Byzantine's | | | | designs were popular too. Finger rings in silver and |
| most popular and sacred art forms. They were used | | | | other metals with Christian symbols were in great |
| in churches to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the | | | | demand. European jewelry has been deeply |
| surface, especially domes and half-domes. A lot of it | | | | influenced by the Byzantine artistic styles. |
| was destroyed during the series of destructions that | | | | |