The main aim of this project is to study views on and uses of ancient literature in twelfth-century Byzantium. In order to do so, this project seeks to explore the following aspects of twelfth-century intellectual history:
The approach will be wide-ranging- the analyses of the texts will be conducted with the help of close reading and in terms of intertextuality. In order to discuss the interrelationship between the ancient and Byzantine texts, the theory of Harold Bloom (the anxiety of influence) will be employed. Since this project will also analyse the imitation of ancient writings in twelfth-century Byzantine texts, the methodology is inspired by general works on a mimesis (Auerbach, Genette) as well as works relating specifically to mimesis of Antiquity in Byzantine literature (Hunger, Nilsson).
This project will contribute to our better understanding of the twelfth-century Byzantine intellectual life and the way of coping with ancient literary heritage, its findings will be of interest not only for Byzantinists but also Classicists and western medievalists.
More information about the project
The aim of this project is to bring together scholars who work on the the reception of Byzantine culture in the post-Byzantine world. Research on the reception of Byzantium is a relatively new field - especially when it comes to these cultures which were not parts of the Byzantine Empire. During the first three years we intend to compile a preliminary list of Byzantine secular texts contained in Polish libraries and the catalogue of the translations of Byzantine secular literary texts from between the 16th and late 19th centuries. A conference and a book on the reception of Byzantine culture is also planned.