On Buildings (in Medieval Greek: Περὶ κτισμάτων, in Latin: De aedificiis) is a work by the Byzantine historian Procopius, dedicated to the construction projects of Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565). On Buildings, is a valuable compilation of information about construction activity, around the Mediterranean region in the 6th century. Some cities mentioned in the work are known only from this text, and no other document has survived. It is believed that the work was commissioned or ordered by the reigning emperor to glorify his achievements. The work is divided into six books of different length, each dedicated to Justinian's achievements across different parts of his vast Byzantine Empire. After a brief introduction, the text describes the capital, Constantinople, with the first book focusing primarily on its ecclesiastical architecture. The second book covers fortifications in Mesopotamia, while the third addresses those in Byzantine Armenia. The fourth book lists fortresses and other military structures on the Balkan Peninsula. The fifth book details buildings constructed or restored in Asia Minor and Palestine. The sixth book is devoted to Byzantine Egypt, Cyrenaica, Tripolitania, and other provinces of Byzantine North Africa.
Procopius and His Works
The second half of the 6th century is considered one of the most significant periods in the history of the Byzantine Empire, preceding the 7the century's Dark Ages, and the Iconoclastic period of the 8th–9th centuries. This era marked important transformations in Byzantine society, the culmination of the fusion of classical and Christian cultures, and the transition from the ancient polis to the medieval city. The details of this process remain somewhat unclear. In many cases, the works of Procopius are the primary or even sole source for this period. The question of the authorship and dating of Procopius' works is crucial for evaluating events during the final years of the reign of Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565). Many classical studies of Byzantine history concerning Justinian's reign, if not largely paraphrasing Procopius' History of the Wars (as in J. B. Bury's A History of the Later Roman Empire, 1923), rely on it as the primary source of factual material. Little is known about Procopius' life beyond what he revealed in his works. By his own account, he was born in Caesarea in Palestine. In the 4th century, this city was a major center of Christian theology, home to an extensive library founded by Pamphilus. By the 6th century, Caesarea likely retained its cultural significance. It was a cosmopolitan city inhabited by Christians, Jews, and Samaritans, and Procopius may have been well-acquainted with the turbulent history of the region. This familiarity may explain his apparent disapproval of Justinian's policies aimed at suppressing religious minorities. According to Averil Cameron, few Christians of the time shared Procopius' view that investigating the nature of God was "folly and madness" or his condemnation of the persecution of theological opponents. This stance led some scholars, notably Felix Dahn, to suggest Procopius may have been of Jewish origin. Similarly, historian Kate Adshead, based on Procopius' tone regarding the Samaritans, proposed a Samaritan background. The prevailing view today is that Procopius belonged to the upper echelons of Caesarea's Christian society. He likely received a legal education. Based on his adoption of the historical style of Thucydides, some scholars infer that he studied in Gaza, known for its 6th-century scholarship on this ancient Greek historian, though no direct evidence supports this theory. Since 527, Procopius was a secretary and legal advisor (Latin: assessor) of the Belisarius general, accompanying him in all the wars conducted during Justinian's reign. His observations formed the basis for Books I–VII of History of the Wars, completed in 550, with the eighth book finished later, likely in 554. Belisarius' dismissal in 548 was a blow to Procopius. Around the same time as completing the initial books of History of the Wars, Procopius wrote his famous pamphlet, Secret History, exposing the vices and misdeeds of Justinian and his wife Theodora. Sometime in the 550s or early 560s, he produced a work of a markedly different tone, the panegyric On Buildings. With these three works, Procopius is the only author to have written a history, an invective, and a panegyric dedicated to the same individual. The diversity of Procopius' works, presenting contrasting perspectives on Justinian's rule, has prompted extensive analysis. In 1865, German historian Felix Dahn proposed the first comprehensive theory, suggesting that a disillusioned patriot, Procopius wrote On Buildings under imperial orders, against his convictions, fearing reprisals. His true opinions, Dahn argued, were expressed later in the Secret History. Thus, the historian's worldview became closely tied to the dating of his works. In contrast, in 1985, British scholar Averil Cameron proposed viewing Procopius' triptych as a cohesive whole with shared themes and stylistic elements. Cameron's book Procopius and the Sixth Century spurred significant research in this area, resolving many questions. In 2004, the most recent major study on Procopius (as of 2016), by Anthony Kaldellis, revisited the question of how someone who risked writing the Secret History could portray Justinian as an exemplary Christian monarch. Kaldellis argued that On Buildings was insincere, written to avoid danger or for personal gain. The view of Procopius as primarily a dissident and a representative of Neoplatonic circles opposed to Justinian has been deemed unconvincing by most modern Byzantinists.
Dating problems
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