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Byzantine Reading List

Reading List for PhD candidates in Byzantine Greek

The major language translation examination (see under General Examinations) will be based on the following list. Students are also urged to read widely in translation from authors and works not included in the list.

Students may petition the graduate committee to make substitutions of items on the reading list in two categories, except core authors/texts that may not be substituted (indicated with an *):

  • Substitutions of a work by the same author, provided that the substituted material is roughly of the same length and parallel in genre, and
  • A work of one author on the list for a work of another, or a work of an author not on the list for an author on the list, provided that the substituted material is roughly of the same length and parallel in genre. Petitions should be submitted to the graduate committee in advance of the regular advising meeting at the beginning of the semester, no later than the beginning of the term in which the student will sit the General Examinations (normally the spring term of the second year). Petitions will be discussed with the student at this advising meeting and the approved list will be used as the basis for the written translation examinations.

Byzantine Greek Literature

  • *Akathistos Hymn
  • Alexios Makrembolites: Dialogue between Rich and Poor
  • *Anna Komnene: Alexiad Prol., I, III, VI, XIV 7, XV 11
  • Andrew of Crete: Great Canon
  • Anthologia Graeca I, XV 1-20 and 28-50
  • Barlaam and Joasaph 1-6, 16-49
  • Basil of Caesarea: To the Young Men on Ancient Greek Literature
  • Christopher of Mytilene: Poems 1-21
  • *Digenes Akrites: G IV-VIII, E 702-1867
  • Entertaining Tale of Quadrupeds
  • Eumathios Makrembolites, Hysmine and Hysminias I-III
  • Eusebius of Caesarea: Life of Constantine I, II
  • George Gemistos (Pletho), Funeral Oration for Kleope Malatesta
  • *George Pisides: Bellum Avaricum; On the Restoration of the True Cross
  • Gregory of Cyprus: Autobiography
  • *Gregory of Nazianzus: Or. 15 On the Maccabees
  • *John Malalas: Chronicle I, IV-X, XIV 1-8, XVIII
  • *John Moschos: Spiritual Meadow Prol., 60, 75-77, 107, 195, 243 (= 12 Mioni)
  • John Tzetzes: Letters 1-8 and 24-27 with Histories IV 780 – VI 817 and VIII 10-23
  • Kallimachos and Chrysorrhoe
  • Kassia, Troparion on the Sinful Woman
  • Lament for Constantinople (Anakalema Konstantinoupoleos)
  • Leontios of Neapolis: Life of Symeon the Fool
  • *Michael Psellos: Encomium for his Mother; Essays on Euripides/Pisides and Heliodorus/Achilles Tatius
  • Narrative about the Construction of Hagia Sophia (Patria of Constantinople IV)
  • Niketas Choniates: History 1.1-12.93, 535.3-582.46 van Dieten
  • Paul the Silentiary: Ekphrasis of Hagia Sophia
  • *Photios: Bibliotheca Prol., 26-31, 40, 60, 73, 87, 128, 141-144, 159, 160, 199, 265; Homilies 3, 4
  • *Procopius of Caesarea: Secret History 1.1-10 (Prol.), 6-18
  • Ptochoprodromos 1, 3
  • *Romanos Melodos: Kontakia 10, 35, 37, 40, 54 Grosdidier de Matons
  • Symeon Metaphrastes: Life of Pelagia
  • *Symeon the New Theologian: Hymns 2-7, 35
  • *Synesius of Cyrene: On Kingship
  • Theodore II Laskaris: Encomium of Nicaea
  • *Theodore Metochites: Semeioseis gnomikai 1, 8, 18, 19, 24, 25, 28, 37, 44
  • *Theodore Prodromos: Katomyomachia; Rhodanthe and Dosikles I-III, VIII, IX
  • Theophanes Confessor: Chronographia 3.1-34.5, 399.27-503.25 de Boor
  • Timarion