Book contents
- Writer and Occasion in Twelfth-Century Byzantium
- Frontispiece
- Writer and Occasion in Twelfth-Century Byzantium
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- A Note on Texts and Translations
- List of Abbreviations
- Chapter 1 The Authorial Voice of Occasional Literature
- Chapter 2 Praising the Emperor, Visualizing His City
- Chapter 3 The Occasion of Death
- Chapter 4 In Times of Trouble
- Chapter 5 On an Educational Note
- Chapter 6 Life, Love and the Past
- Chapter 7 Occasional Writing as a Creative Craft
- Bibliography
- Index locorum
- General Index
Chapter 5 - On an Educational Note
The Writer as Grammatikos
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 December 2020
- Writer and Occasion in Twelfth-Century Byzantium
- Frontispiece
- Writer and Occasion in Twelfth-Century Byzantium
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- A Note on Texts and Translations
- List of Abbreviations
- Chapter 1 The Authorial Voice of Occasional Literature
- Chapter 2 Praising the Emperor, Visualizing His City
- Chapter 3 The Occasion of Death
- Chapter 4 In Times of Trouble
- Chapter 5 On an Educational Note
- Chapter 6 Life, Love and the Past
- Chapter 7 Occasional Writing as a Creative Craft
- Bibliography
- Index locorum
- General Index
Summary
Chapter 5 brings to the fore Manasses’ activities as a teacher in Constantinople and focuses on the so-called Astrological poem, the Origins of Oppian and five grammar exercises, known as schede, attributed to Manasses. Dedicated to Sebastokratorissa Eirene, the Astrological poem offers a basic introduction to the workings of the stars and planets along with the zodiac. While the Astrological poem may seem to teach rather untraditional knowledge, the Origins of Oppian and the schede express the very basis of Byzantine education: grammar, Christianity and the ancient heritage. The Origins of Oppian at the same time contains references to Manasses’ own situation as a writer on commission, offering yet another important connection between patronage and education. The schede are all on Christian topics, drawing attention to the significance of hagiographical and biblical texts as a complement to the ancient heritage, and for comparative reasons the Sketches of the mouse is brought into the discussion.
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- Writer and Occasion in Twelfth-Century ByzantiumThe Authorial Voice of Constantine Manasses, pp. 113 - 141Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020