SCIBOS: State functionaries in Byzantium: a social and cultural study (7th-9th c.)

This new research project is funded by the European Union under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) (Grant Agreement ID: 101109500). It is hosted by Sorbonne University, in the laboratory UMR 8167: Orient et Méditerranée, from September 2024 to August 2026. The project also includes partnerships for scientific collaboration with the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Athens. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Christos Malatras, with Prof. Béatrice Chevallier-Caseau serving as the scientific supervisor.

The project examines the career prospects of state functionaries in Byzantium between the 7th and 9th centuries, focusing on their geographical and institutional mobility, communication networks, and length of tenures. It also explores their social and cultural identity as reflected in their self-representation, professional choices, piety, and ethnic origin. While acknowledging the limitations of narrative and archival sources, the project primarily relies on Byzantine lead seals as its main source material. A key objective of the project is to advance beyond traditional approaches to the study of Byzantine lead seals. This will be achieved by demonstrating their potential for understanding medieval society, particularly in the fields of social and cultural history, and by incorporating tools from the Digital Humanities, such as SigiDoc, developed by Dr Alessio Sopracasa.

For more information regarding the project you may contact the Principal Investigator Christos Malatras ( christos.malatras@sorbonne-universite.fr ; chrkak@hotmail.com ). See also https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101109500