"Illustrations of 7th-8th century Romano Byzantines." Topic

Contemporary illustrations of 7th-8th century Romano Byzantines.
The Syriac Bible of Paris, BnF MS. Syriaque 341, Syria or Turkey, 7th Century
Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh in the Syriac Bible of Paris
Note the helmet of one of Pharaoh's guards.

The Triumphal Entrance of Emperor Justinian II 'Rhinometus'? into Thessalonika, Byzantine Fresco from Hagios Demetrios, 7-8th century
There may be a fleur-de-lis pattern on the shield. Also note the coloured trim on the tunics of the attendants.
A reconstruction of the Byzantine Fresco from Hagios Demetrios, Thessalonika, 7-8th century

Also from this period are the Ashburnham Pentateuch Manuscript, 6th-7th Century and plates of the reign of Herakleios, early 7th century, with scenes from the life of David in Romano-Byzantine costume & armour

MIRROR SITES
The Syriac Bible of Paris, BnF MS. Syriaque 341, Syria or Turkey, 7th Century
The Triumphal Entrance of Emperor Justinian II 'Rhinometus'? into Thessalonika, Byzantine Fresco from Hagios Demetrios, 7-8th century

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

I notice the emperor merits a halo--that would be interesting to model in 15mm or 28mm!
Thanks for posting these!
Grelber

The odd thing about "halo" depiction is that it seems to have been an artistic device to direct the viewer's attention toward important "characters", not necessarily an indication of holiness. Muslim artwork of the same era makes copious use of "halos" around the heads of all of the central figures. I haven't really looked into this beyond noticing it, but I do suspect that there are different "levels" of halo employed, with the more ornate halos reserved for actual "saints" and so forth (in Christian artwork at least). Common, or mundane halos serve the purpose of directing attention, as I posit here….

From about the late 2nd century AD Roman Emperors were portrayed with a nimbus (halo), like Apollo. This continued after the Emperors became Christian.

There does not seem to be a convention in Islamic illustrations. Of 13th century Maqamat manuscripts, some have no halos – Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, Maqamat manuscript Arabe 5847, 1237AD
some have all people with halos – Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, Maqamat manuscript Arabe 3929, 2nd quarter of 13th century and some have all in an illustration, or none, or just some – St. Petersburg Branch of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Maqamat manuscript C-23 of c. 1225-35, perhaps indicating different artists for these illustrations.

Christ is often depicted with a Maltese cross in his halo – Christ before the High Priest, Syriac Gospel c. 1220

Druzhina
Byzantine Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

I'm a firm believer that Justinian knew what he was doing when he depicted himself with a halo, and in most cases you certainly don't need it to determine who the most important figure is.

It was a convention that became a sign of status too, I'm thinking. If you are an artist at court wanting preferment, you put halos around the "big man" or men. It wouldn't matter that everyone knew who they were without the halos. If you left them off it'd be the mention that they miss….