The Chronographia of George the Synkellos and Theophanes

The Chronographia of George the Synkellos and Theophanes PDF Author: Jesse W. Torgerson
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004516859
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 476

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Book Description
The ninth-century Chronographia of George the Synkellos and Theophanes is the most influential historical text ever written in medieval Constantinople. Yet modern historians have never explained its popularity and power. This interdisciplinary study draws on new manuscript evidence to finally animate the Chronographia’s promise to show attentive readers the present meaning of the past. Begun by one of the Roman emperor’s most trusted and powerful officials in order to justify a failed revolt, the project became a shockingly ambitious re-writing of time itself—a synthesis of contemporary history, philosophy, and religious practice into a politicized retelling of the human story. Even through radical upheavals of the Byzantine political landscape, the Chronographia’s unique historical vision again and again compelled new readers to chase after the elusive Ends of Time.

The Chronographia of George the Synkellos and Theophanes

The Chronographia of George the Synkellos and Theophanes PDF Author: Jesse W. Torgerson
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004516859
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 476

Get Book Here

Book Description
The ninth-century Chronographia of George the Synkellos and Theophanes is the most influential historical text ever written in medieval Constantinople. Yet modern historians have never explained its popularity and power. This interdisciplinary study draws on new manuscript evidence to finally animate the Chronographia’s promise to show attentive readers the present meaning of the past. Begun by one of the Roman emperor’s most trusted and powerful officials in order to justify a failed revolt, the project became a shockingly ambitious re-writing of time itself—a synthesis of contemporary history, philosophy, and religious practice into a politicized retelling of the human story. Even through radical upheavals of the Byzantine political landscape, the Chronographia’s unique historical vision again and again compelled new readers to chase after the elusive Ends of Time.

The Argument of Psellos' Chronographia

The Argument of Psellos' Chronographia PDF Author: Anthony Kaldellis
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004452869
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 237

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Book Description
This book is a philosophical interpretation of Michael Psellos' Chronographia, an acknowledged masterpiece of Byzantine literature. Anthony Kaldellis argues that although the Chronographia contains a fascinating historical narrative; it is really a disguised philosophical work which, if read carefully, reveals Psellos' revolutionary views on politics and religion. Kaldellis exposes the rhetorical techniques with which Psellos veils his unorthodoxy, and demonstrates that the inner message of the text challenges the Church's supremacy over the intellectual and political life of Byzantium. Psellos consciously articulates a secular vision of Imperial politics, and seeks to liberate philosophy from the constraints of Christian theology. The analysis is lucid and should be accessible to anyone with a general knowledge of Byzantine civilization. It should interest all who study the history of ancient and medieval philosophy.

Chronographia: 8ᵗʰ Maccabees

Chronographia: 8ᵗʰ Maccabees PDF Author: Scriptural Research Institute
Publisher: Digital Ink Productions
ISBN: 199828882X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 20

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Book Description
In 563 AD, a Syrian scholar named John Malálas composed a history of the world subsequently called the Chronographia. The Chronographia was written in Greek, however, John was drawing from both Greek and Syriac sources and created one of the longer historical works of the era. His Chronographia was later translated into several ancient languages, and fragments survive in Georgian and Old Slavonic. It was eighteen volumes long, however, is of limited historical value, as it combines ancient mythologies, biblical stories, and events copied from older historical texts into a fantastical history of the world. Some of the earlier historians that John drew on are accepted as the Greek writers Eusebius of Caesarea and Eustathius of Epiphania, however, his Syriac sources are undocumented. John’s work is unusual for the era as he was focused on creating a work for monks and commoners, not the aristocrats. This is likely why it was carried to as many lands as it was and used as a source by later authors. One of the major works to use it as a source from it is the Primary Chronicle, one of the earliest Eastern Slavic works, believed to have been compiled near Kyiv in the 1110s. John’s literary style was simple, reflecting the straightforward communication of the written language of everyday business of the era. The majority of the Chronographia focused on the history of Antioch and then Constantinople, which is believed to have reflected John’s move from Antioch to Constantinople in 540, caused by the Persians attacking Antioch. Based on his diction, he is believed to have been a lawyer, however, some have theorized he was a religious scholar. A very small section of his work mentions the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt, which has garnered the attention of academics studying the era. His text is clearly influenced by the Syriac tradition here and ignores the Greek entirely for some reason. He referred to the seven martyrs Antiochus Epiphanes killed as the Maccabees, the same as the Syriac poem Martha Shamoni and the Maccabean Martyrs, which Western biblical scholars have dubbed 6ᵗʰ Maccabees. None of the Greek, Hebrew, or Arabic translations refer to the martyrs as the Maccabees.

(Re)writing History in Byzantium

(Re)writing History in Byzantium PDF Author: Panagiotis Manafis
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000068757
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 271

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Book Description
Scholars have recently begun to study collections of Byzantine historical excerpts as autonomous pieces of literature. This book focuses on a series of minor collections that have received little or no scholarly attention, including the Epitome of the Seventh Century, the Excerpta Anonymi (tenth century), the Excerpta Salmasiana (eighth to eleventh centuries), and the Excerpta Planudea (thirteenth century). Three aspects of these texts are analysed in detail: their method of redaction, their literary structure, and their cultural and political function. Combining codicological, literary, and political analyses, this study contributes to a better understanding of the intertwining of knowledge and power, and suggests that these collections of historical excerpts should be seen as a Byzantine way of rewriting history. The Open Access version of this book, available at https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780429351020, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Chronographia

Chronographia PDF Author: Michael Psellus
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781960069504
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
It is a history of the Byzantine emperors during the century leading up to Psellos' own time. It covers the reigns of fourteen emperors and empresses, beginning with the almost 50-year-long reign of Basil II, the "Bulgar-Slayer" (976-1025), and ending some time during the reign of Michael VII Doukas (1071-1078).

A Theory of History and Society with Special Reference to the Chronographia of Michael Psellus

A Theory of History and Society with Special Reference to the Chronographia of Michael Psellus PDF Author: Anitra Gadolin
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Byzantine Empire
Languages : en
Pages : 234

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Book Description


Fourteen Byzantine Rulers

Fourteen Byzantine Rulers PDF Author: Michael Psellus
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141904550
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 623

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Book Description
This chronicle of the Byzantine Empire, beginning in 1025, shows a profound understanding of the power politics that characterized the empire and led to its decline.

Chronographia, a Chronicle of Eighth Century Byzantium

Chronographia, a Chronicle of Eighth Century Byzantium PDF Author: Theophanes (the Confessor)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Byzantine Empire
Languages : en
Pages : 162

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Book Description


The Depiction of Character in the Chronographia of Michael Psellos

The Depiction of Character in the Chronographia of Michael Psellos PDF Author: Frederick Lauritzen
Publisher: Brepols Publishers
ISBN: 9782503548418
Category : Byzantine Empire
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Character is the single most important feature of the Chronographia written by Michael Psellos (1018-1081?). It is an historical account of the events at court from the time of Basil II (986-1025) to Michael VII Doukas (1071-1078) with the insight of someone whose career developed within the imperial court and his unsurpassed eye for details of personality was enlightened by his intellectual interests. During his lifetime, Psellos was considered the forefront of philosophical studies in the capital and therefore was named consul of philosophers in 1047 and he credited himself with reintroducing Plato on the cultural scene of Constantinople. It was his attractive manner of speech which led him to remain in the emperor's presence and his rhetorical ability also plays an important role in the Chronographia, especially when he emphasizes or fabricates events to justify his understanding of a person's mind. Many have employed Psellos' Chronographia for its value in shedding light on historic events, itself important, though it often neglects the fact that Psellos' historiography is not based on factual details to explain multiple causes for events, but seeks to attribute blame or merit to the personality of the ruling emperor.

The Chronicle of John Malalas

The Chronicle of John Malalas PDF Author:
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004344608
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 417

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Book Description
Malalas' purpose in writing his work is twofold: 1) to set out the course of sacred history as interpreted by the Christian chronicle tradition (covered by Books 1-9); and 2) to provide a summary account of events under the Roman emperors up to and including his own lifetime (covered by Books 10-18).