The Book of Ceremonies: In 2 Volumes, Volume 2"Ostensibly Constantine was the author of the Book of Ceremonies....His purpose...was to 'save from oblivion' knowledge that had become faded and fragmented through a period of neglect and was in danger of disappearing altogether. He was concerned that the imperial ceremonial should be well ordered so that it would bring renown to the emperor and the senate...reflecting 'the harmonious movement of the creator in relation to the whole.' To this end it was necessary to collect the records of ancestral customs and current practices from many sources and to arrange these in an accessible form in simple language both for his own use and for future generations...."--Introduction, p. xxiii. |
