Windows, atmospheres and experience in medieval Cypriot castles

Jamieson, Erin (2021) Windows, atmospheres and experience in medieval Cypriot castles. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Although often overlooked in archaeology, windows play an important role in past experiences of buildings. In this thesis I am aiming to understand the importance of windows to the experience of medieval Cypriot buildings. To do this I will develop the study of atmospheres as a methodology – initially used as an alternative to phenomenology in prehistoric archaeology, I will show how it can be well suited to historical archaeology, and the study of historical buildings in particular. By using all sources available to us, from historical documents to the standing buildings, contemporary art to personal impressions, we can begin to understand not just what people were experiencing in terms of sensory information, but also what this information meant. Not just holes in walls, windows allow sensory information from other spaces – something which is central in the experience of the spaces in the past, playing a part in social hierarchies, safety and practicality. In order to study this, I have chosen to focus on the medieval buildings of Cyprus, specifically the three castles of St Hilarion, Kyrenia and Kolossi. Experiencing these castles for myself, seen alongside medieval Cypriot, Italian and French sources, I can start to piece together aspects of the experiences of the people who lived and worked in these buildings.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Keywords: Cyprus, medieval archaeology, castles, castle archaeology, medieval Cyprus, spatial archaeology, windows, past experiences, experiential archaeology, crusader archaeology, the crusades, the latin levant.
• Subjects: C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology; D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D111 Medieval History; N Fine Arts > NA Architecture; N Fine Arts > NX Arts in general
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology
• Supervisor's Name: Given, Dr. Michael and Brophy, Dr. Kenny
• Date of Award: 2021
• Depositing User: Ms Erin M Jamieson
• Unique ID: glathesis:2021-81896
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 12 Jan 2021 10:43
• Last Modified: 12 Jan 2021 15:03
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.81896
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/81896