Saints of Ninth- and Tenth-Century Greece (Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library)

__Saints of Ninth- and Tenth-Century Greece__ collects funeral orations, encomia, and narrative hagiography. Together, these works illuminate one of the most obscure periods of Greek history—when holy men played central roles as the Byzantine administration reimposed control on southern and central Greece in the wake of Avar, Slavic, and Arab attacks and the collapse of the late Roman Empire. The bishops of the region provided much-needed leadership and institutional stability, while ascetics established hermitages and faced invaders. The Lives gathered here include accounts of Peter of Argos, which offers insight into episcopal authority in medieval Greece, and Theodore of Kythera, an important source for the history of piracy in the Aegean Sea. This volume, which illustrates the literary variety of saints’ Lives, presents Byzantine Greek texts written by locals in the provinces and translated here into English for the first time. Saints Of Ninth- And Tenth-century Greece Collects Funeral Orations, Encomia, And Narrative Hagiography. Together, These Works Illuminate One Of The Most Obscure Periods Of Greek History--when Holy Men Played Central Roles As The Byzantine Administration Reimposed Control On Southern And Central Greece In The Wake Of Avar, Slavic, And Arab Attacks And The Collapse Of The Late Roman Empire. The Bishops Of The Region Provided Much-needed Leadership And Institutional Stability, While Ascetics Established Hermitages And Faced Invaders. The Lives Gathered Here Include Accounts Of Peter Of Argos, Which Offers Insight Into Episcopal Authority In Medieval Greece, And Theodore Of Kythera, An Important Source For The History Of Piracy In The Aegean Sea.this Volume, Which Illustrates The Literary Variety Of Saints' Lives, Presents Byzantine Greek Texts Written By Locals In The Provinces And Translated Here Into English For The First Time..-- Martyrdom Of Nicholas The Younger -- Encomium Of Nicholas The Younger / By The Presbyter Achaikos -- Funeral Oration For Athanasios, Bishop Of Methone / By Peter, Bishop Of Argos -- Life Of Peter, Bishop Of Argos / By Theodore, Bishop Of Nicaea -- Life And Miracles Of Theokletos, Bishop Of Lakedaimon -- Life Of Theodore Of Kythera / By Leo -- Commemoration Of Arsenios, Archbishop Of Kerkyra. Edited And Translated By Anthony Kaldellis And Ioannis Polemis. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 345-348) And Index. Greek With English Translation On Facing Pages; Introduction In English. "Saints of Ninth- and Tenth-Century Greece collects funeral orations, encomia, and narrative hagiography. Together, these works illuminate one of the most obscure periods of Greek history--when holy men played central roles as the Byzantine administration reimposed control on southern and central Greece in the wake of Avar, Slavic, and Arab attacks and the collapse of the late Roman Empire. The bishops of the region provided much-needed leadership and institutional stability, while ascetics established hermitages and faced invaders. The Lives gathered here include accounts of Peter of Argos, which offers insight into episcopal authority in medieval Greece, and Theodore of Kythera, an important source for the history of piracy in the Aegean Sea.This volume, which illustrates the literary variety of saints' Lives, presents Byzantine Greek texts written by locals in the provinces and translated here into English for the first time.".-- Provided by publisher The saints' lives translated in this volume are not among the best known, but they have at least two features that compel broader attention: first, they concern a poorly documented but hotly debated period in the history of medieval Greece, the ninth and early tenth centuries; and, second, as a collected corpus they exhibit a great deal of literary variety, presenting students of hagiography with a compact dossier of texts that feature a range of literary modes and tropes. The texts are individually fairly short and have not been previously translated into English.-- Provided by publisher