Chrysoloras [...] disciplinam Grecarum litterarum in Italiam retulit: una nota sulla riscrittura umanistica degli studi di greco nel Medioevo

The present paper examines a series of texts by the first generation of humanists, such as Leonardo Bruni, Poggio Bracciolini and Guarino da Verona, concerning the construction of the myth that the Middle Ages lacked knowledge of Greek. It argues that this communis opinio was created by the humanists themselves, who presented Manuel Chrysoloras as the first teacher of Greek in Italy, even though earlier experiences existed, such as those of the monk Barlaam and Leonzio Pilato. The final part of the article focuses on the reception of this myth in the XVI century, with the analysis of Melanchthon's Oratio in laudem novae scholae.