The Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice has inherited from the city’s Greek Community a special collection, the history of which reflects the importance of the most important Greek community in Western Europe.

The rich cultural heritage of the Institute includes the Byzantine codex 05, known as the Mythos of Alexander the Great. A unique manuscript in the world, it is decorated with magnificent miniature paintings accompanied by explanations in Greek in red ink and accompanied by an early Ottoman script. It is the narrative of Pseudo-Callisthenes (14th century), the “Alexander’s Narrative”.

It is considered the work of three Byzantine painters in which the environment of the Kingdom of the Komnenoi of Trebizond is probably depicted through the oriental elements incorporated in the miniatures.

The 250 miniatures describe the most important events in the life of Alexander the Great, who is depicted as the Byzantine emperor and protector. The Macedonian general brings with him the cultural capital of Hellenism, fighting beyond the boundaries of the empire as a leader and just judge.

It is a world-famous fictional narrative, translated into eleven languages, in which the birth, upbringing, campaigns, battles, sieges of cities, meetings with foreign rulers and the death of the Macedonian King are masterfully depicted.