The Representation Of Athina_Al-Llat In Palmyrene Sculpture During The Roman Period: A Comparative Analytical Study

Abstract

The topic of the research revolves around the Byzantine maritime themes during the Arab Byzantine conflict in the seventh and eighth centuries AD, This era was marked by the establishment of the Muslim Arabs for the first time with a huge fleet, whose ships attacked the sea and invaded the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean, and their attempt to withdraw maritime sovereignty from the hands of Byzantium to their hands.

For this reason, Byzantium tried to make every effort to preserve its maritime sovereignty and its trade, which generates huge profits behind it. As a result, it created a system of themes that evolved from one period to another, and each emperor contributed to its development and modification in accordance with the existing circumstances. There are also many types of these marine themes and their fleets, and each particular theme and fleet has contributed, albeit a small one, to this Arab struggle to preserve the Byzantine Empire and its position as much time as possible.