"Eyes" on the thrones: Imperial ophthalmologic nicknames

Several Greek and Byzantine sovereigns are known in history by nicknames th at are of ophthalmologic origin; the sobriquets derive from characteristics of their eyes or their actions in relation to the eyes. The first was Anti gonos I Monophthalmus (the One-eyed), who was the most eminent successor of Alexander the Great and Sovereign of Eastern Mediterranean Asia. He obtain ed his nickname at an early age when he lost one eye fighting at the seige of Perinthos, as a general of King Philip of Macedon (father of Alexander t he Great). Several Byzantine emperors also have a number of similar nicknam es, such as Anastasius I Dicoros (with Heterochromia Iridis), Alexius V Duc as Murtzuphlus (with Scowling Eyebrows), and Andronicus I Comnenus Misophae s (Hater of Sunlight, since he blinded a great number of his opponents). To these must be added the Byzantine Empress Zoe Carvounopsina (with Coal-bla ck Eyes). (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.