Ancient Epistolary Theory in the Byzantine School: Pseudo-Libanios’ Manual and its Later Versions

Authors

  • Dmitri A. Chernoglazov St. Petersburg State University, 7–9, Universitetskaya nab., St. Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu20.2018.207

Abstract

Epistolary Styles of Pseudo-Libanios (PL), a late antique manual on epistolary art, were well known to the Byzantines. The task of this article is to show that PL and its later versions were used in Byzantium as school textbooks, and to characterize their function and place in the curriculum of ἐγκύκλιος παιδεία. The research is concentrated on the Late Byzantine period (13th–15th cc.). The following texts are analyzed: PL in the original version (PL1); Epistolarium Vaticanum, an anonymous version, known in two manuscripts of the 15th c. (EV); Characteres epistolici XL, a collection of forty model letters, widespread during the Late Byzantine and Ottoman period (Ch40). PL1 was used probably within the grammar course or as a transitional link to the course of rhetoric. This is evidenced by its manuscript tradition. EV was used at the early stage of ἐγκύκλιος παιδεία, making part of the grammar course. This is clear from its content — model letters are overtly didactic in nature. The use of EV in school is also evidenced by glosses in the manuscripts. Ch40 was studied at a later stage of the educational process — as a part of the course of rhetoric. Scholia in manuscripts show that the text was analyzed with regard to the methods of rhetorical argumentation. The terminology of scholia originates in the treatise On invention, possibly written by Hermogenes of Tarsus.

Keywords:

Epistolography, epistolary theory, rhetorical theory, grammar, educational system, school manuals, Pseudo-Libanios, Characteres epistolici, manuscript tradition

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Published

2018-12-13

How to Cite

Chernoglazov, D. (2018). Ancient Epistolary Theory in the Byzantine School: Pseudo-Libanios’ Manual and its Later Versions. Philologia Classica, 13(2), 265–275. https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu20.2018.207

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Antiquitas perennis

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Articles of "Philologia Classica" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.