Parodies of imperial discourse in Sixth-Century AD Greek epigrams : a case study

Sixth-century Greek book epigrams can offer insights into debates and ideas present in their historical context, also into the shaping of a Christian society. Through a case study of two epigrams, this article explores how these pointed and playful compositions parody and subvert imperial discourse...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Febrer, Oriol
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)
Repositorio:e_Buah Biblioteca Digital Universidad de Alcalá
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ebuah.uah.es:10017/64820
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10017/64820
https://dx.doi.org/10.37536/ebizantinos.2024.12.2387
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Kaiserkritik
John the Cappadocian
Agathias
Justinian
Novellae
Juan de Capadocia
Agatías
Justiniano
Historia
Filología
History
Philology
Descripción
Sumario:Sixth-century Greek book epigrams can offer insights into debates and ideas present in their historical context, also into the shaping of a Christian society. Through a case study of two epigrams, this article explores how these pointed and playful compositions parody and subvert imperial discourse thanks to intertextual allusions to Justinian’s legislation, chiefly his “Novellae”. The first epigram (AP XI.238) is an example of criticism on administrative decisions, namely the appointment of an official, probably John the Cappadocian, by the emperor. The second epigram (AP V.302) shows farther-reaching criticism on Justinian’s legal and moral reforms regarding marriage and sexual behaviour; it emphasises that sexual gratification is not possible anymore in the society reshaped by the emperor.