Four anonymous byzantine letters of the X-th–XI-th c.: routine details and literary game

Author(s):  D.A. Chernoglazov, Dr., Prof., St.-Petersburg State University, St.-Petersburg, Russia, d.chernoglazov@spbu.ru

Issue:  Volume 42, №8

Rubric:  Topical issues of world history

Annotation:  The article examines 4 anonymous Byzantine letters, preserved in Bodl. Auct. T. 4. 04 and published in the uncritical edition in 1925. It is assumed that all the 4 letters have been written by the same author in the 10th–11th century. His-torical and philological analysis of the texts is conducted. It is demonstrated that these letters are a valuable source on the Byzantine everyday life and a unique literary monument. The annex contains the Greek text of the letters, based on the manuscript, and their Russian translation.

Keywords:  Byzantine epistolography, epistolary ceremonial, everyday life in Byzantium, Macedonian Renaissance, the theme Anatolikon

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