tablion

{{Short description|Clothing accessory of high dignitaries in ancient times and the Byzantine Empire}}

File:Emperor Justinian and his retinue. Detail of the mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale. Ravena, Italy.jpg and his court, showing the golden tablion of the emperor and the purple tablion of the senior courtiers.{{sfn|Parani|2003|p=12}} Mosaic from the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna.]]

The {{Transliteration|el|tablion}} ({{langx|el|ταβλίον}}) was a rectangular or trapezoidal panel embroidered on the ceremonial mantle (chlamys) of courtiers during the Byzantine Empire.{{sfn|Ševčenko|1991|p=2004}}

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The {{Transliteration|el|tablia}} were chosen to contrast with the mantle colour, and sewn pairwise on the front edges of the mantle. They could be further decorated with embroidered designs or images of the emperor.{{sfn|Parani|2003|p=12}}{{sfn|Ševčenko|1991|p=2004}} The emperor's mantle originally (in the 4th century) featured {{Transliteration|el|tablia}} sewn almost at the bottom of the mantle, below the knees, but from the 6th century they were moved to the centre of the mantle opening.{{sfn|Ševčenko|1991|p=2004}} As the {{Transliteration|el|chlamys}} was the chief civilian court dress, the {{Transliteration|el|tablion}} was a part of male court costume,{{sfn|Parani|2003|p=12}} and had to be purchased by the office-holders (for example, a {{Transliteration|el|patrikios}} paid 24 gold {{lang|la|solidi}} in the 9th century).{{sfn|Ševčenko|1991|p=2004}} The only women allowed to wear a {{Transliteration|el|chlamys}} and {{Transliteration|el|tablion}} were the empresses.{{sfn|Parani|2003|p=12}}{{sfn|Ševčenko|1991|p=2004}} In the middle Byzantine period, the {{Transliteration|el|chlamys}} is much more richly decorated, but is sometimes depicted without {{Transliteration|el|tablia}}. The exact significance of this is unclear, although it has been suggested that it might denote lower court ranks.{{sfn|Parani|2003|p=53}}

In art, the {{Transliteration|el|chlamys}} is usually depicted with the right half thrown behind the shoulder, so that only the left-hand {{Transliteration|el|tablion}} is visible.{{sfn|Parani|2003|p=12}}{{sfn|Ševčenko|1991|p=2004}} Although normally a symbol of civilian dress, military saints are often depicted wearing a {{Transliteration|el|chlamys}} with {{Transliteration|el|tablia}}.{{sfn|Ševčenko|1991|p=2004}}

In the Kletorologion of 899, the term {{Transliteration|el|tablion}} is also used for a box for the emperor's personal garments, carried by his servants during processions.{{sfn|Ševčenko|1991|p=2004}}