History, philosophy, and poetry in the Histories of Agathias of Myrina

Thesis

This thesis is a study of the dynamic roles of history, philosophy, and poetry in the Histories of Agathias of Myrina. It is especially concerned with Agathias’ numerous philosophical digressions and the influence of ancient and late antique philosophy upon his history. To date, no studies have been done on the place of philosophy in the Histories. Yet, Agathias wrote in the philosophically active climate of sixth-century Constantinople. I argue that he received an education in Neoplatonic philosophy in Alexandria and that this syllabus is manifested in his Histories. The commentaries of Simplicius of Cilicia had a particularly strong influence on him. From metriopatheia to anagogical anecdotes, Simplicius’ influence is evident. The argument presented in this thesis is that Agathias used his extensive education to construct a morally didactic text underpinned by a coherent philosophy of history. He blended poetry with history and philosophy to make his ethical instructions more palatable. He also had his own unique views on divine justice, physis, emotions, and even generalship. In addition, his desire to instruct his audience led him to use language normally found only in technical treatises. This study also aims to separate Agathias from the debate surrounding his religious beliefs, which has obscured the richness and complexity of his work. Historical causation in the Histories was not determined by Agathias’ religious affiliation but by his self-stated desire to instil virtues into people’s souls. Aside from God, nonhuman forces were rejected because they rendered moral instruction difficult. The Histories was not the mere side project of a busy lawyer but the magnum opus of a philosopher-historian.

Authors: Wild, J

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-pyrvk4zy9
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Byzantine; Neoplatonism; philosophy; Agathias; historiography
• Subjects: Byzantine Studies; Transmission of texts; Intellectual history