Sull’immagine di Simeone Stilita il Vecchio nel Menologio di Basilio II

The manuscript gr. 1613 of the Vatican Library is a Menologion, a book that contains short texts about the lives of the saints drawn up in liturgical order, and is dedicated to the emperor Basil II. The second illumination of the codex shows an image of St. Symeon Stylites the Elder. Close to the column of the hermit, there are some figures already interpreted as Arabs paying their respect to the saint, because of the turbans wrapped around their heads. The critical analysis of the illumination allows us to recognize a specific hagiographic source chosen to represent the Saracens converted to the Christian faith. This hypothesis is supported by devotional aspects, by historic context, by military expeditions along the East borders of the Empire and by cultural and social relations with the Arabs during the rule of this emperor. In particular, it is useful to take into consideration the peace imposed on al- Hakim, the Fatimid caliph of Egypt, in 1001 and 1011. These episodes should be considered in the chronological assessment of this manuscript.