Porphyrogenitos

Porphyrogennētos or Porphyrogenitus (Greek: Πορφυρογέννητος), literally "born in the Purple" was a title given to a son or daughter (Porphyrogenneta) of a reigning Emperor in the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.

However, not every son or daughter was accorded this honorific distinction. There was a very prescribed set of circumstances that had to be in place before this title could be granted.

Born in the Purple

This designation's most important, and geographically significant, condition was that the child be born in the Porphyry Chamber (more of a pavilion) of the Great Palace of Constantinople. No child born anywhere else could legitimately be called Porphyrogennētos.

The Porphyra/Porphyry Chamber

This pavilion was a free-standing building in the Great Palace complex in Constantinople. The pavilion rested on one of the Palace's many terraces, overlooking the Sea of Marmora and the Bosphorus Strait. The Porphyra was in the form of a perfect square from floor to ceiling, with the latter ending in a pyramid. Its walls, floor and ceiling were completely veneered with Imperial Porphyry.

Basileus and Augusta

The other important qualifiication for status as a Porphyrogenetoi was that the father must be a reigning Basileus (Greek: βασιλεύς), the Byzantine Greek word for Emperor, and the mother must be married to the Basileus and therefore be an Empress. Additionally, the Empress must have also undergone a formal and sacred ceremony creating her an "Augusta".

Context

Byzantine Emperors, Porphyrogennetoi or not, were already viewed as semi-divine personages, being the Vice-Regents of God on Earth; the importance of the title Porphyrogennetos was that it imbued its honoree with the sense of the mystical and pre-ordained. Several Byzantine diplomatic missions were concluded successfully only on the condition of a Porphyrogenneta being sent to a solidify the bargain - or in reverse a foreign princess coming to Byzantium to seal a treaty, only on the condition of marrying a Porphyrogennetos.

References

Esternal links

* [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199806/via.porphyrites.htm Via porphytites] Saudi Amarmco World article with general information on ancient mining of porphyry.

ee also

*Porphyry