Greek epigram in Late Antiquity

This chapter will deal with Greek literary epigram from Palladas (second half of the 4th century CE: but I discuss the new date to the age of Constantine, recently proposed) up to Georges of Pisidia (beginning of the 7th century). The core of the chapter is devoted to the renewal of literary epigram, due to a group of learned scholastikoi (lawyers) in Constantinople, whose classicizing epigrams were collected in Agathias’Cycle. I deal with literary-historical issues and some major topics, like: a) the survival and renewal of traditional themes, like satire and personal invective, erotic and symposiastic epigram; b) the development of epideictic epigram; c) the influence of Christianity on gnomic epigram and on treatment of mythological subjects; d) literary models, rhetoric and language; e) the question of the so-called “modern style” in epigram of the 6th century. A final paragraph is devoted to the reception of late literary epigram in early Byzantine production (George of Pisidia and Sophronius).