Panegyric and Apology

This chapter opens by considering the accession of Jovian, a case study of how political expedient could dominate the tone and content of panegyrics. Themistius’ Oratio V presents Jovian’s humiliating peace with Persia in 363 as a victory for the Romans and as a legitimating tool for Jovian. The chapter then examines the usurpation of Procopius in 365, an incident treated by Themistius’ Oratio VII and Symmachus’ Oratio I. These two very different panegyrics demonstrate how their messages were crafted to the specific needs of the orator and the emperor whom they addressed. Themistius, representing a people and a city closely associated with Procopius, makes him out to be a scheming trickster, but Symmachus, far removed from events, an insignificant bandit. The chapter also examines how Themistius’ portrait influenced Ammianus Marcellinus, and so how it has influenced modern viewpoints. It closes by considering the usurpation of Valentinian II in 375.

Ancient history · Art · Astronomy · Emperor · Jovian · Literature · Panegyric · Poetry · Politics · Saturn · Victory · Byzantine Studies and History · Classical Antiquity Studies · Historical and Religious Studies of Rome · History · Law