Lieve Van Hoof
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- September 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780520281448
- eISBN:
- 9780520966192
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520281448.003.0009
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Literary Studies: Classical, Early, and Medieval
Libanius’s letter collection is the largest to survive from antiquity, and indeed it is one of the most important sources on the socio-cultural history of late antiquity. Nevertheless, it has been ...
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Libanius’s letter collection is the largest to survive from antiquity, and indeed it is one of the most important sources on the socio-cultural history of late antiquity. Nevertheless, it has been only partially translated and selectively studied; this chapter, by contrast, focuses on the collection as a whole. First, it analyzes the three most important manuscripts, which shows 300 roughly identical letters in varying order. Second, it examines the collection’s design and its effects on interpretation. Finally, it dives into the question of editorial origins: did Libanius or some posthumous admirer compile the collection? Thus this chapter will show that reading Libanius’ letters in their original order—not in the chronological order first proposed by Otto Seeck and adopted by most editors and translators—not only enriches our understanding of the individual letters, but also shows the value of the letter collection as a unified literary composition.Less
Libanius’s letter collection is the largest to survive from antiquity, and indeed it is one of the most important sources on the socio-cultural history of late antiquity. Nevertheless, it has been only partially translated and selectively studied; this chapter, by contrast, focuses on the collection as a whole. First, it analyzes the three most important manuscripts, which shows 300 roughly identical letters in varying order. Second, it examines the collection’s design and its effects on interpretation. Finally, it dives into the question of editorial origins: did Libanius or some posthumous admirer compile the collection? Thus this chapter will show that reading Libanius’ letters in their original order—not in the chronological order first proposed by Otto Seeck and adopted by most editors and translators—not only enriches our understanding of the individual letters, but also shows the value of the letter collection as a unified literary composition.
Raffaella Cribiore
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- August 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780801452079
- eISBN:
- 9780801469084
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9780801452079.003.0001
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, European History: BCE to 500CE
This introductory chapter presents a brief critical historiography of the life and works of the fourth-century sophist, Libanius, who lived and taught rhetoric in the city of Antioch in ancient ...
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This introductory chapter presents a brief critical historiography of the life and works of the fourth-century sophist, Libanius, who lived and taught rhetoric in the city of Antioch in ancient Syria. His pivotal historical position, in particular, warrants further investigation—in studying him we may thus gain a little more insight into late antiquity—a world of entangled communities, spaces, and temporalities. Hence this chapter addresses various issues that need to be considered in establishing Libanius's rightful place in the society in which he was a protagonist, his rhetorical discourse, the reasons for his popularity in pagan and Christian circles alike, and the cultural expectations of the audience that crowned him “the sophist of the city.”Less
This introductory chapter presents a brief critical historiography of the life and works of the fourth-century sophist, Libanius, who lived and taught rhetoric in the city of Antioch in ancient Syria. His pivotal historical position, in particular, warrants further investigation—in studying him we may thus gain a little more insight into late antiquity—a world of entangled communities, spaces, and temporalities. Hence this chapter addresses various issues that need to be considered in establishing Libanius's rightful place in the society in which he was a protagonist, his rhetorical discourse, the reasons for his popularity in pagan and Christian circles alike, and the cultural expectations of the audience that crowned him “the sophist of the city.”
Raffaella Cribiore
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- August 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780801452079
- eISBN:
- 9780801469084
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9780801452079.001.0001
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, European History: BCE to 500CE
Libanius of Antioch was a rhetorician of rare skill and eloquence. So renowned was he in the fourth century that his school of rhetoric in Roman Syria became among the most prestigious in the Eastern ...
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Libanius of Antioch was a rhetorician of rare skill and eloquence. So renowned was he in the fourth century that his school of rhetoric in Roman Syria became among the most prestigious in the Eastern Empire. This book draws on the entire body of Libanius's vast literary output—including 64 orations, 1,544 letters, and exercises for his students—to offer the fullest intellectual portrait yet of this figure whom John Chrystostom called “the sophist of the city.” Libanius (314–ca. 393) lived at a time when Christianity was celebrating its triumph but paganism tried to resist. Although himself a pagan, Libanius cultivated friendships within Antioch's Christian community and taught leaders of the Church including Chrysostom and Basil of Caesarea. The book calls him a “gray pagan” who did not share the fanaticism of the Emperor Julian. The book considers the role that a major intellectual of Libanius's caliber played in this religiously diverse society and culture. When he wrote a letter or delivered an oration, who was he addressing and what did he hope to accomplish? One thing that stands out in Libanius's speeches is the startling amount of invective against his enemies. How common was character assassination of this sort? What was the subtext to these speeches and how would they have been received? The book restores Libanius to his rightful place in the rich and culturally complex world of Late Antiquity.Less
Libanius of Antioch was a rhetorician of rare skill and eloquence. So renowned was he in the fourth century that his school of rhetoric in Roman Syria became among the most prestigious in the Eastern Empire. This book draws on the entire body of Libanius's vast literary output—including 64 orations, 1,544 letters, and exercises for his students—to offer the fullest intellectual portrait yet of this figure whom John Chrystostom called “the sophist of the city.” Libanius (314–ca. 393) lived at a time when Christianity was celebrating its triumph but paganism tried to resist. Although himself a pagan, Libanius cultivated friendships within Antioch's Christian community and taught leaders of the Church including Chrysostom and Basil of Caesarea. The book calls him a “gray pagan” who did not share the fanaticism of the Emperor Julian. The book considers the role that a major intellectual of Libanius's caliber played in this religiously diverse society and culture. When he wrote a letter or delivered an oration, who was he addressing and what did he hope to accomplish? One thing that stands out in Libanius's speeches is the startling amount of invective against his enemies. How common was character assassination of this sort? What was the subtext to these speeches and how would they have been received? The book restores Libanius to his rightful place in the rich and culturally complex world of Late Antiquity.
Raffaella Cribiore
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- August 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780801452079
- eISBN:
- 9780801469084
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9780801452079.003.0006
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, European History: BCE to 500CE
This concluding chapter attempts to enrich our understanding of the position of moderate pagans confronted with the Emperor Julian's extremism. It considers again the edict and the subsequent ...
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This concluding chapter attempts to enrich our understanding of the position of moderate pagans confronted with the Emperor Julian's extremism. It considers again the edict and the subsequent imperial letter that Julian wrote with regard to teachers of higher education. Whereas the traditional view imagines only Christian professors as the target of those measures, this chapter suggests that moderate pagans were also included in the intended audience. The reality of a paganism that included many lax and apathetic worshippers must not have escaped the burning zeal of Julian, sensitized by his recent conversion; to succeed, his plans demanded more committed worshippers of the old gods. The edict sent a shiver of concern through those whose allegiance to paganism was more moderate, like Ammianus and Libanius. Whereas Ammianus hurried to write that the measure should be passed over in silence, Libanius responded rather with a charged silence.Less
This concluding chapter attempts to enrich our understanding of the position of moderate pagans confronted with the Emperor Julian's extremism. It considers again the edict and the subsequent imperial letter that Julian wrote with regard to teachers of higher education. Whereas the traditional view imagines only Christian professors as the target of those measures, this chapter suggests that moderate pagans were also included in the intended audience. The reality of a paganism that included many lax and apathetic worshippers must not have escaped the burning zeal of Julian, sensitized by his recent conversion; to succeed, his plans demanded more committed worshippers of the old gods. The edict sent a shiver of concern through those whose allegiance to paganism was more moderate, like Ammianus and Libanius. Whereas Ammianus hurried to write that the measure should be passed over in silence, Libanius responded rather with a charged silence.
