The glory of Byzantium.

A stunning exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art "demonstrates the richness of Middle Byzantine culture through many of the finest examples of its artistic heritage, revealing the religious, aesthetic, and cultural influences that flowed into and out of the empire."

The second golden age of Byzantine civilization, from the middle of the ninth to the mid 13th century, set a standard of imperial elegance and artistic quality for both contemporary Europe and the Islamic East. For the first time ever, this great era is the focus of a major exhibition. currently on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Incorporated are masterpieces from major museums in the U S., Greece, the Russian Federation, the Vatican, France, Germany, Turkey, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Denmark, Austria. Poland. the Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel, Belgium, and Spain, along with works drawn from the Metropolitan Museum's own collection. Objects from Turkey represent both the historic role of Constantinople (now: Istanbul) as the capital of Byzantium and the interaction of Byzantine art with Islamic culture. Works from Orthodox monasteries, never before lent abroad, add special significance to the exhibition's exploration of...