The John Skylitzes Chronicle
Date Description Source Reference
Late 12th to early 13th century. Five bell tents. The large orange bell tent on the left has a gold cross with a lower dark cross beam sitting on a small gold ball sitting a top a larger gold ball apex, the roof just below the apex and the roof edge are decorated with black tendril lines between two black lines, the bottom edge is decorated with a band of cross hatching, the guy ropes for apex, roof edge and bottom edge are very visible. 

There are four smaller tents on the right. Top left; blue bell tent, red cross a top gold ball apex, bands of red cross hatching just below apex, around roof edge and around bottom edge, guy ropes for apex and roof edge visible. Top right; Grey bell tent, red cross a top gold ball apex, line around apex, band of cross hatching around roof edge, two lines of dark lines follow the rise and fall of bottom edge, guy ropes for apex, roof edge and bottom. Bottom left; light red (or pink) bell tent, no apex decoration visible, possible blue tip, band of dark cross hatching inside two dark lines seems to cover the rest of the roof and runs along bottom edge, guy ropes for roof edge and bottom edge. Bottom right; grey bell tent, red cross a top gold ball apex, red band around top of tent, red cross hatching bands around roof edge and along bottom edge, guy ropes for roof edge and bottom edge. 

Note; guy rope attachment is single point only.

John Skylitzes Chronicle, Biblioteca Nationale, Madrid. 

The Bulgars are besieging Thessalonika. The tents of the Bulgars army can be seen in the background. 
 

Grabar, A., & Manoussacas, M., L'illustration du manuscrit de Skylitzes de la Bibliotheque Nationale de Madrid, Venise, 1979. 
Late 12th to early 13th century. Two bell tents and one pavilion. 

Larger bell tent multicoloured (top left), ball apex and apron, apex guy rope, dark roof with lighter panel lines, roof edge deliniation, bottom edge pegs, some with guy ropes. 

Smaller greenish grey bell tent (bottom left), ball apex, apex guy rope only on right side, bottom edge pegs. 

Small greenish grey pavilion, straight roof ridge, roof end guy ropes, horizontal lines on roof, bottom edge pegs, some with guy ropes.

John Skylitzes Chronicle, Biblioteca Nationale, Madrid. 

Fig. 193 (fol. 151b).

Grabar, A., & Manoussacas, M., L'illustration du manuscrit de Skylitzes de la Bibliotheque Nationale de Madrid, Venise, 1979. 
Late 12th to early 13th century. Two bell tents. Using black and white photocopy. 

Large bell tent (right), conical top sitting on top of ball apex with apron, apex guy ropes, decorative bands around roof, roof edge guy ropes, sides are drawn up to reveal interior scene. 

Small bell tent, no apex as such, apex guy rope, dark roof, roof edge guy ropes, scolloped bottom edge with pegs.

John Skylitzes Chronicle, Biblioteca Nationale, Madrid. 

Fig. 238 (fol. 201v).

Grabar, A., & Manoussacas, M., L'illustration du manuscrit de Skylitzes de la Bibliotheque Nationale de Madrid, Venise, 1979. 

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