The final seminar paper begins with a presentation of the Middle Byzantine period, which spans from the end of iconoclasm in 843 to the Latin occupation of Constantinople in 1204. The shorter period of remarkable flourishing of Middle Byzantine art under the rule of the emperors of the Macedonian dynasty, marked by a revival of the ancient heritage, is referred to as the »Macedonian Renaissance«. The attitude of contemporary Byzantine society toward the ancient tradition during this period has been the subject of scholarly studies. Kurt Weitzmann points out that the ancient heritage was constantly present and consciously revived in Byzantine art, with ancient illuminated manuscripts serving as the starting point for combining classical and non-classical elements in works of byzantine art. In contrast, Anthony Cutler emphasizes that individual iconographic motifs were arranged primarily on the basis of aesthetic sensibility, while Henry Maguire draws attention to a completely different way of interpreting ancient motifs as a consequence of the fear of idolizing pagan images. Alicia Walker treats ancient mythology as a means of thoughtfully addressing sensitive issues and critically questioning social norms. Evidence of Byzantine society's particular interest in ancient tradition during the »Macedonian Renaissance« can be found in rosette caskets, named after the rosettes on the edges of their ivory panels. Among them, the most famous is the casket from Veroli with a range of ancient motifs, which offers valuable testimony to the ambivalent attitude towards ancient tradition.
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