Ascending to and descending from Perfection: The Illustration of John Climacus' Ladder of Divine Ascent (Κλιμαξ Θειας Ανοδου) and its imaginary symbolism in the Byzantine Middle Ages.

Part of the project titled 'Longing for Perfection: Living the Perfect Life in Late Antiquity-A Journey between Ideal and Reality', this proposal for a doctorate research will focus on the Iconography of John Climacus' Ladder of Divine Ascent in the Byzantine milieu, from the 10th century up to the present. In addition to the systematization of the physical characteristics, style and content of the Illustrations, the study will aim, in particular, at revealing the political and social reasons that gave birth to the Iconography and also the intellectual mechanisms of the imaginary symbolism, behind the artistic expression of striving to perfection.