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Thursday, 4 November 2021, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm CET
Writing Metrical (Para)texts in Byzantium: The Evidence of Inscriptions and Manuscripts
Priv.-Doz. Dr Andreas Rhoby (Vienna)
In the Byzantine Empire (4th-15th century), the epigraphic habit did not cease to exist after late antiquity. Although the production of public stone inscriptions dropped, in the middle and late Byzantine period many inscriptions were painted on the walls of churches or attached to objects kept in their treasuries. As a considerable number of inscriptions were written in verse (epigrams), this allows us to speak of an 'epigrammatic habit' (Paul Magdalino) in Byzantium. Epigraphic culture and manuscript culture in Byzantium must never be viewed in isolation. Not only were epigraphic scripts imitated in manuscripts and manuscript minuscule letters used in inscriptions, but the concept of so-called paratexts is common to both, as will be shown in the presentation.