The Byzantine reception of Aristotle’s Rhetoric: the 12th century Renaissance

Melpomeni Vogiatzi

doi:10.1515/bz-2020-0045

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, I argue that, after centuries of neglect, a revival of interest towards Aristotle’s Rhetoric took place in 12th century Constantinople, which led to the production of a number of commentaries. In order to give an overview of the commentary tradition on the Rhetoric, I examine first the surviving extant commentaries themselves, then the information that the commentators offer regarding their preceding interpretations, and last the traces of commentaries on the Rhetoric found in other treatises. This examination will show that, at least within a specific group of scholars, the Rhetoric was studied and commented upon like never before. Finally, I attempt to explain this revival of interest, especially with respect to the role that philosophical and rhetorical education played in 12th century Byzantium.

Highlights

In this paper, I argue that, after centuries of neglect, a revival of interest towards Aristotle’s Rhetoric took place in 12th century Constantinople, which led to the production of a number of commentaries
In order to give an overview of the commentary tradition on the Rhetoric, I examine first the surviving extant commentaries themselves, the information that the commentators offer regarding their preceding interpretations, and last the traces of commentaries on the Rhetoric found in other treatises
I attempt to explain this revival of interest, especially with respect to the role that philosophical and rhetorical education played in 12th century Byzantium

Summary

Introduction

I argue that, after centuries of neglect, a revival of interest towards Aristotle’s Rhetoric took place in 12th century Constantinople, which led to the production of a number of commentaries. The first extant commentaries on Aristotle’s Rhetoric that have come down to us are dated in the 12th century CE and are written in Constantinople by an Anonymous author and by an ancient commentator named Stephanus.

Results

Conclusion