Themistius and the Reception of Hellenic Paideia in Georgia

Abstract

The paper will discuss Themistius’ (4th c.) Oratio 27 “On Placing Importance on People and not on Places”, which mentions Themistius’ alma mater situated near Phasis. This information fills in a gap in our knowledge of academic centres in the Georgian kingdoms of the period. Oratio 27 is interesting for Kartvelian Studies in other respects as well, including for the reception of Hellenic Paideia in Georgia. The continuity of Hellenic education and cultural tradition in Georgia is well illustrated by the use of analogies and expressions characteristic of Themistius, a pagan rhetorician, by Georgian authors from different political and cultural backgrounds: e.g. Hermes and Prometeus as the symbols representing logos and insight in Ioane Petritsi’s commentaries on Proclus’ “Elements of Theology”, the concept of the “bitter roots” of education in David Guramishvili’s poem and so on.