In Her Own Words: The Life and Poetry of Aelia Eudocia

Examining Aelia Eudocia’s writings as a unified whole and in context, Brian P. Sowers reveals an exceptional author representing three late-antique communities: poets interested in transforming classical literature; Christians positioned outside traditional power structures; and women who challenged social, religious, and literary boundaries.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 275 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2021
Publisher: Harvard University, Center for Hellenic Studies

In Her Own Words: The Life and Poetry of Aelia Eudocia

is the first comprehensive examination of Eudocia's writings as a coherent body of work and their position within the broader literary, social, and religious contexts of the fifth century. Eudocia, responsible for over 3,000 lines of extant poetry, stands as one of the most remarkably preserved ancient female poets. Due to her writing in a literary mode often suppressed by proto-orthodox (male) leaders, a significant portion of her poetry has not survived, and what remains is understudied and underappreciated. This book represents a thorough exploration of Eudocia's works, encompassing her epigraphic poem in honor of the therapeutic bath at Hammat Gader, her Homeric cento, a poetic paraphrase of the Bible utilizing lines from Homer, and her epic on the fictional magician-turned-Christian, Cyprian of Antioch.

When reading her poetry as a whole and in context, Eudocia emerges as an exceptional author, representing three distinct late-antique communities: poets engaged in the preservation and transformation of classical literature; Christians whose religious beliefs placed them outside and against traditional power structures; and women who challenged social, religious, and literary boundaries.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674987371