[545] A work reproducing, under the Pope's authority, the eighty-two miniatures illustrating the _Life of the Madonna_, which was composed by a monk James in the twelfth century (_Cod. Vatic. Gr._ 1162), is announced (Danesi, Editore, Roma, 1911), with a preface and descriptions of the miniatures by Cosimo Stornajolo. The miniatures are said to rival those of the Greek Codex 1028 in the National Library in Paris. [546] _Op. cit._ pp. 134-41. [547] i. p. 303. [548] _Carmina_ (ed. Treu), A. 1004, 1039-1042; B. 322-334. [549] Diehl, _Études byzantines: Les mosaïques de Kahrié Djami_. [550] See on the whole subject, C. Diehl, in the Gazette des Beaux-Arts, troisième période, tome 33, and in his _Manuel d'art byzantin_, pp. 732-41; Schmitt in his monograph on the Chora; Mühlmann, _Archiv für christliche Kunst_, 1886-87. [551] Alludes to his marriage with a relative of the imperial family. [552] In the translation I have been assisted by Sir W. M. Ramsay, Professor Bury, and Mr. E. M. Antoniadi. The meaning of [Greek: teleutaioi krotoi] is not clear. Various interpretations have been suggested; to read [Greek: brotoi], mortals, instead of [Greek: krotoi], and to construe [Greek: teleutaioi] adverbially, 'finally, O mortals!'; to understand a reference to the judgment day, 'O applauses given at the final judgment'; to take the phrase as equivalent to, 'O celebrities at (or to) the very end of time'; to understand it as signifying the eulogies actually given to the deceased by the poet. Professor Tendès, of Athens, whom I thank for his courtesy in this connection, suggests that the meaning is similar to that of the phrase [Greek: ta teleutaia] in the modern Greek form of eulogy, [Greek: ekame polla, alla ta teleutaia tou].... 'He did many things, but his last performances!' (surpassed all his previous deeds). Here the meaning would therefore be, 'O grandest achievements that men praise!' CHAPTER XXV THE DATING AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE CHURCHES The dating of the Constantinople churches is a problem of great difficulty, and, in the absence of documentary evidence, we must often be contented with very indefinite suggestions. Many churches are known to have been founded at dates which are evidently earlier than the existing buildings, and have apparently been rebuilt at some later date of which the record has been lost. Other churches are known to have been 'repaired,' and here the question of how far 'repair' means 'rebuilding' is sometimes insoluble. Repair may mean simply a fresh coat of paint. The architectural characteristics afford a certain clue, and the following chronological scheme has been drawn up by their guidance:-- The pre-Justinian period is characterised by simple construction and detail of a late Roman type. Of this we have one example--the basilica of S. John of the Studion, founded about 463. The existing building appears to be original.