Collection record · Small worlds
Histamenon of Romanus III
The collection record classifies this work as coins. It is dated 1028–34. Recorded culture or place: Byzantium.
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- Museum title
- Histamenon of Romanus III
- Date
- 1028–34
- Culture / origin
- Byzantium
- Materials and technique
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 2.4 cm (15/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 2011.213
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
Romanus III Argyrus (968–April 11, 1034) was Byzantine emperor from November 15, 1028, until his death. He was husband of Zoe, the daughter of Constantine VII, the man Romanus was to succeed as emperor three days after wedding the daughter. He appears to have thought a lot of himself and his abilities, but in fact was inept, corrupt, and self-absorbed. His government was filled with corruption and mismanagement. He made the mistake of ignoring his wife Zoe and limiting her expenses in an effort to reduce expenditures. This would prove fatal to him as he was either poisoned or drowned (accounts differ) by the hand or order of his wife.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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