Every so often, there is a piece of literature that meets my high expectations. Generally speaking, literature tends to take a back seat to movies and even video games at times, but this is still very an important medium that needs to be respected more. Reading a book helps to quiet the mind and get it away from the litany of distractions that are on smartphones and tablets. They are also important conveyers of one’s historical heritage and can teach us something about the world that we live in. One of those books that is a great product of the Hellenic Republic in Greece that will inspire all sorts of youngsters to learn about their amazing history is Theophano: A Byzantine tale, published by Byzantine Tales.
This is a small three-person team that made this comic book. This isn’t created in the greatly esteemed offices of DC Comics or Marvel Comics, companies with decades of experience. These people are not like that at all. They are passionate individuals who want to tell the story of Greece in a time period that is generally not talked about in the history books. One of the reasons that I started this blog was to spread the word about all things Byzantine. In this article, I explain the reasons for learning about Byzantine history. In another article, I talk about how we are attracted to Byzantine culture and history. There is so much missing on the internet about this incredible culture. It is necessary that some of us take it upon ourselves to remedy the situation and educate people.
Why is this important? Well because, as the Greek creators of Theophano: A Byzantine Tale have shown us that history can be interesting to all age groups. Unfortunately, in the West, the study of history has become something that is seen for elite people or is something that is entertainment as easily digestable bites. I understand that not all people are interested in history but it is important that history not be reduced to tropes and easily understood concepts. History is complex and I believe that it is important that stories like that of Theophano get told to the wider world. Especially in countries such as Greece, history is very much alive, and the people there have an appreciation for history that one does not see in media at all. It is important for this to be seen in any sort of media. Theophano: A Byzantine Tale helps to bring to life the many pages of the Byzantine culture and history that is often so seen as something that has vitality in it.
The story is generally speaking follows the main sources on Theophano and I believe that the team responsible for making this book succeded at bring Theophano’s life to the comic book pages.
Overall, the narrative follows the major events with some extra ficitious elaborations to fill in the gaps. They are believable as this book was made by Greeks not Americans. This is a very important point. According to this review made by Greek City Times several years ago, the illustrator, Chrysa Sakel, emphasized that they spent much time doing historical research to get at the insights of 10th Century Byzantine or Roman culture. Chrysa and the writer Spyros Theocharis are native to Hellenic Republic of Greece. Their historical connection to this history is something that one cannot get from Anglo-phone historians or writers.
I greatly appreciate what they have done with Theophano: A Byzantine Tale. What we have in this story is a story of a woman who came from a humble background and took on the Byzantine establishment. I love these kind of stories, especially when they deal with a female character who is not a warrior. Theophano is depicted as a shrewd politician but she isn’t given superhuman qualities.
This woman is depicted with nuance and care and that is what is important for something of this nature. Chrysa and Spyros have consistenly shown with this book and others that they have released that Anglophone world is not to have a monopoly on telling history. With the way how things are going on in the Anglophone West, these two extradinordinary Greeks have produced something that is beautiful and tells something about history of a woman who was so important to the construction of the Macedonian Dynasty.
I highly recommend taking a look at this comic book; you will be amazed at what you see.
Byzantine-Empire.com 