Engin Akyürek

Tervetuloa Pohjoismaiden suurimpaan verkkokirjakauppaan! Adlibris kannattaa sananvapautta, ja haluamme edistää kirjallisuuden ja tiedon saatavuutta.

The Hippodrome of Constantinople was constructed in the fourth century AD, by the Roman Emperor Constantine I, in his new capital. Throughout Byzantine history the Hippodrome served as a ceremonial, sportive and recreational center of the city; in the early period, it was used mainly as an arena for very popular, competitive, and occasionally violent chariot races, while the Middle Ages witnessed the imperial ceremonies coming to the fore gradually, although the races continued. The ceremonial and recreational role of the Hippodrome somehow continued during the Ottoman period. Being the oldest structure in the city, the Hippodrome has witnessed exciting chariot races, ceremonies glorifying victorious emperors as well as the charioteers, and the riots that shook the imperial authority. Today, looking to the remnants of the Hippodrome, one can imagine the glorious past of the site.

The articles of this volume offer a rich diversity of perspectives on philanthropy as practiced in Anatolia over some 2500 years. From such an extensive set of investigations, one would expect to compose a coherent synthetic statement on the nature of Anatolian philanthropy as well as some proposals for how to develop further a meaningful program of research on the topic. It turns out that the latter is far easier than the former; although this volume contains twenty original studies, they do not ultimately clarify either the definition of philanthropy or any essential aspect of Anatolia. The reflections below address first what might be called “the problem with philanthropy” and “the ambiguity of Anatolia.” Once these waters are sufficiently muddied, it nonetheless emerges that a program of research on the topic is possible and even promising. The First International Suna and Inan Kiraç Symposium on Mediterranean Civilization - March 26-29, 2019, Antalya