Reading and Copying Latin Texts in a Greek-speaking Area. The Ways of Diffusion of Latin Literary Culture in Constantinople

Abstract

In this paper I will try to identify the ways of diffusion of Latin literary culture in Constantinople, especially during Justinian’s reign (527-565), whose first language was Latin. I will explore four fields : I. Evidence of the knowledge of Latin texts among Byzantine writers of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and even 7th centuries AD. II. The place of Latin in the learning system of Constantinople. III. The activity of writers of Greek origin using Latin. IV. The circulation of Latin texts in a Greek-speaking area. I will focus on this last point, the three other being only an introduction to this issue.