Bryer, Winfield, Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (DOS 1985)
[Bibliography]
Anthony Bryer, David Winfield, The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos, series Dumbarton Oaks Studies XX (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, D.C. 1985)
This excellent work represents the most comprehensive study of the region that extends from Cape Karambis (140 km. west of Sinope) to Gonia (or Gounia; on the northwest border of Georgia with Turkey). It covers half the coast of Paphlagonia, the entire Pontos, both coastal and the interior, and a section of Byzantine Lazika, together with other border areas of Medieval Georgia, such as Guria and Tao Klarjeti. This work is a veritable `Bible' on the subject: the more one turns to it the wiser one becomes — it is a delight for the weary academic soul.
The Dumbarton Oaks presentation: “The Pontos and its empire of Trebizond (1204–1461) embraced the distinctive Black Sea coastlands, mountains, and pastures of northeastern Anatolia. The importance of this unusual study is twofold. First, it places the material remains of the medieval peoples of the Pontos in their historical and environmental setting through a sequence of local histories. Second, it is a field record—usually the first and all too often the last—of over three hundred sites and monuments examined by the authors since 1957. They include walled cities, painted churches, cave monasteries, and perilous castles, all of which are covered in extensive photographic documentation with additional plans, maps, drawings, bibliographies, and indices.”
Table of Contents Volume One: DEDICATION . PREFACE Vii. KEY TO SECTIONS XV. LIST OF FIGURES Xvi. LIST OF PLATES Volume Two. FOLDOUT MAPS. Pocket, Volume Two. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Xix. BIBLIOGRAPHIES: 1. Primary Sources xxii. 2. Travelers' Reports on the Pontos xxviii. 3. Secondary Works xlii. CHAPTER ONE: The Topography of the Pontos. 1 Geography 2. Coastal Towns 7. Towns in the Coastal Valleys 12. Inland Cities 12. TWO: Routes: Introduction 17. Sea Routes 18. River Routes 18. Land Routes, East-West 19. Land Routes, North-South 39. Georgian Routes 57. Excursus on the Routes taken by Mehmed II in 1461, 60.SECTION 1: From Cape Karambis to Sinope 67. 11: Sinope 69. III: From Sinope to the Halys 89. IV: Amisos, Aminsos, Simisso, and Samsun 92. V: The Iris Delta, Limnia, and the Problem of Kinte 96. VI: Oinaion and the District of Chalybia 101. VII: Neokaisareia (Neocaesarea) 107. VIII: Phadisane-Polemonion and the District of Sidene 111. IX: Sauronisena and the Hinterland of Polemonion 116. X: The Central Lykos 118. XI: Cape Jason 119. XII: From the Melanthios to the Pharmatenos 124. XIII: The City and District of Kerasous 126. XIV: Cape Zephyrion and Kenchrina (?)135. TABLE OF CONTENTS XV: Tripolis and the Philabonites River 138. XVI: Koloneia 145. XVII: From the Philabonites to Trikomia 152. XVIII: Platana and the Bandon of Trikomia 160. XIX: The District of Cheriana and the Problem of Arauraka 165. XX: The City of Trebizond 178. XXI: The Banda of Matzouka and Palaiomatzouka to the Pontic Passes 251. XXII: Chaldia 299. XXIII: The Bandon of Gemora 319. XXIV: The Bandon of Sourmaina with Ophis 323. XXV: The Bandon of Rhizaion 331. XXVI: The Theme of Greater Lazia and the Land of Arhakel 335. XXVII: The Marchlands of Georgia: The Gurielate and the Saatabago 344. XXVIII: A Note on the Southeastern Borders of the Empire of Trebizond in the Thirteenth Century 352
APPENDIX: Measurements of Brick and Tile in Paphlagonia and Pontos 356. Indices: 1. Greek Topographic 359. II. Toponymic and Monumental 365. III. Iconographic 392. IV. Epigraphic 393. V. Grand Komnenoi as Patrons, etc 394. Volume Two Plates