Man and the Word: The Orations of Himerius (Transformation of the Classical Heritage)

This fully annotated volume offers the first English translation of the orations of Himerius of Athens, a prominent teacher of rhetoric in the fourth century A.D. Man and the Word contains 79 surviving orations and fragments of orations in the grand tradition of imperial Greek rhetoric. The speeches, a rich source on the intellectual life of late antiquity, capture the flavor of student life in Athens, illuminate relations in the educated community, and illustrate the ongoing civic role of the sophist. This volume includes speeches given by Himerius in various cities as he traveled east to join the emperor Julian, customary declamations on imaginary topics, and a noteworthy monody on the death of his son. Extensive introductory notes and annotations place these translations in their literary and historical contexts. "This fully annotated volume offers the first English translation of the orations of Himerius of Athens, a prominent teacher of rhetoric in the fourth century AD. Man and the Word contains seventy-nine surviving orations and fragments of orations in the grand tradition of imperial Greek rhetoric stretching from the Second Sophistic to the School of Gaza. The speeches, a rich source on the intellectual life of late antiquity, capture the flavor of student life in Athens, illuminate relations in the educated community, and illustrate the ongoing civic role of the sophist. This volume includes speeches given by Himerius in various cities as he traveled east to join the emperor Julian, customary declamations on imaginary topics, a noteworthy monody on the death of his son, and an equally noteworthy prose epithalamium for one of his students. Extensive introductory notes and annotations place these translations in their literary and historical contexts."--Jacket Himerius's Son, Rufinus -- In Praise Of Cities And Of Men -- In And Around Himerius's School -- Coming And Going In Himerius's School -- The Epithalamium For Severus -- Imaginary Orations -- Orations Addressed To Roman Officials -- Miscellaneous Remains. Translated, Annotated, And Introduced By Robert J. Penella. Translated From The Ancient Greek. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 283-294) And Index. Offers the English translation of the orations of Himerius of Athens, a prominent teacher of rhetoric in the fourth century AD. This book contains 79 surviving orations and fragments of orations in the tradition of imperial Greek rhetoric. It illuminates relations in the educated community, and illustrates the ongoing civic role of the sophist. Content: Himerius's son, Rufinus -- In praise of cities and of men -- In and around Himerius's school -- Coming and going in Himerius's school -- The epithalamium for Severus -- Imaginary orations -- Orations addressed to Roman officials -- Miscellaneous remains. Himerius' speeches, a rich source on the intellectual life of late antiquity, capture the flavour of student life in Athens illuminating relations in the educated community and illustrating the ongoing civic role of the sophist