Early Byzantine Palace (Myrelaion) in Constantinople

 

The early Byzantine complex at the Myrelaion is one of t,he earliest standing monuments in Constantinople. It contained the largest domed hall of the city and probably served as a residence for a member of the imperial aristocracy, possibly for the nobilissima Arcadia a daughter of Arcadius and sister of Theodosius II.

Marble provenance analysis was done on a  set of 10 pilaster capitals.

Pilaster capital from the Myrelaion.
Pilaster capital from the Myrelaion.
Results from the multivariate calculation of the pilaster capitals from the Myrelaion.
Results from the multivariate calculation of the pilaster capitals from the Myrelaion.
Graphical display of the results of the multivariate statistics of the pilaster capitals from the Myrelaion proving the provenance of most of the capitals from the imperial quarries of Dokimion.
Graphical display of the results of the multivariate statistics of the pilaster capitals from the Myrelaion proving the provenance of most of the capitals from the imperial quarries of Dokimion.

A series of at least 15 pilaster capitals differ from each other and exemplify the aestethic principle of "varietas" which was generally  considered to be the consequence of the use of spolia.

Marble analyses proved the asiatic origin of most of the capitals from the imperial quarries of Dokimion supporting the interpretation of the systematic use of "varietas".