Greek Epigram and Byzantine Culture: Gender, Desire, and Denial in the Age of Justinian

Greek epigrams from the age of the Emperor Justinian celebrate the survival of the sensual in a world transformed by Christianity. Agathias of Myrina's Cycle anthology explores how this genre expressed lurid fantasies of domination and submission, constraint and release, and the relationship between masculine and feminine.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 289 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Greek epigrams from the age of Emperor Justinian celebrate the enduring presence of sensuality in a world shaped by Christianity. Around 567 CE, the poet and historian Agathias of Myrina released his Cycle, an anthology of epigrams by contemporary poets who delved into the concerns of elite men in sixth-century Constantinople. These epigrams encompassed a range of topics, including harlots, dancing girls, chariot races in the hippodrome, and the indulgences of the Roman bath. However, amidst this lavish feast of worldly pleasures, the pervasive influence of ascetic Christianity added a layer of complexity and allure to sensual experiences. In his book, Steven D. Smith delves into the ways in which this miniature classical genre served as a platform for expressing vivid fantasies of dominance and submission, restraint and release, and the interplay between masculine and feminine. This volume will captivate literary scholars and historians with an interest in Greek poetry, Late Antiquity, Byzantine studies, Early Christianity, gender, and sexuality.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108727167