The homeric tradition in Syrianus

Abstract

The thesis examines the way the philosopher Syrianus, the Head of the Neoplatonic School of Athens (432-437), used the Homeric tradition in his exegetical works. His extant works, namely the In Hermogenem, In Phaedrum and In Metaphysica, are in the form of commentary and cover both fields of rhetoric and philosophy. The first chapter of the thesis is divided into three sections. The first section deals with the Homeric tradition up to Syrianus. The second section deals with the works of Syrianus and related problems of authorship. The third section is a brief yet comprehensive account of Syrianus' philosophical system. The second chapter focuses on the Homeric passages to be found in Syrianus' In Hermogenem exegesis. The In Hermogenem is a commentary on the two major works of the orator Hermogenes, the De Ideis and the De Statibus. After the thorough examination of the use of all the Homeric passages and their characteristic exploitation in a work of rhetoric, the chapter concludes with a summary of its findings. The third chapter examines the Homeric tradition in the In Phaedrum commentary. Homer is exploited in many different ways, from the simple linguistic use we are familiar with in the rhetorical works of Syrianus, to the more sophisticated use to be found in passages that deal with psychology and metaphysics. Some examples of allegorical interpretation are also present in this exegesis. The chapter concludes with a summary of its findings. The fourth chapter deals with the use of the Homeric tradition in Syrianus' In Metaphysica commentary. The use of Homer in this work is similar to that in the In Phaedrum, as stated in the concluding remarks of the chapter. The thesis ends with final conclusions and an exhaustive bibliography