A Closer Look: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Byzantine and Medieval Cyprus, lecture by Nikolas Bakirtzis (The Cyprus Institute), American School of Classical Studies at Athens and Zoom, November 5, 2024. 7:00 pm (Athens)

The use of advanced scientific and technological methods has offered new perspectives in the study of the art and architecture of Byzantine and Medieval Cyprus. Analytical tools, digital imaging and scientific visualization can help shed light on the layered histories of paintings and buildings by unveiling unknown details and secrets.

This presentation will draw from research pursued at the Cyprus Institute’s “Andreas Pittas Art Characterization Laboratories” (https://apac.cyi.ac.cy), where an interdisciplinary team of experts develops and applies a wide range of scientific and technological methods to document, study and visualize the material remains, the art and the architecture of Byzantine and Medieval Cyprus.

Selected examples from the UNESCO-listed Painted Churches of the Troodos Mountains, the Early Christian architecture of Salamis and Kourion, the medieval monasteries of the mountains of Kerynia and the fortifications of Nicosia and Famagusta, will provide instructive highlights of the ways advanced science and technology have offered a closer look to the Byzantine and Medieval heritage of Cyprus.

Nikolas Bakirtzis is Associate Professor at the Cyprus Institute pursuing his research at the Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC).