Photius, Library 160
https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/403
Context
Photius I was ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople in 858-867 and
877-886, as well as an unparalleled intellectual luminary for his age. Apart from his
distinguished ecclesiastical career, he engaged in polymathic teaching and research,
supported by his vast personal library. Photius wrote an expansive compendium of
classical writings in 280 volumes or codices, his Library (Βιβλιοθήκη) or
Thousandsfold Book (Μυριόβιβλον), which included epitomes, excerpts,
and commentaries mainly on historical, rhetorical, and theological works, many of which
are otherwise lost. In this passage, Photius discusses the leaders of the rhetorical
school at Gaza, Procopius and Choricius, both of whom were variously connected to
Caesarea, and distinguishes between Procopius of Gaza and Procopius of Caesarea.
Text
Ἤκμασε δὲ ἐν τοῖς Ἰουστινιανοῦ χρόνοις. Γέγονε δὲ μαθητὴς Προκοπίου
ῥήτορος, ἑνὸς τῶν ἀρίστων, οὐ τοῦ Καισαρέως δέ, ὃς ἐς μέγα κτῆμα
καὶ ὄφελος κατ’ ἐκεῖνου καιροῦ τὰς ἱστορικὰς γραφὰς συντάξας ἀείμνηστον αὑτοῦ κλέος τοῖς
σπουδαιοτέροις καταλέλοιπεν· ἑτέρῳ δέ τινι προσωμίλησεν ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ πατρίδι καὶ αὐτῷ
λαχόντι σοφιστεύειν, ὃς καὶ εἰς γῆρας ἐλάσας, ἡδέως εἶχεν ὁρᾶν ἀνθ’ ἑαυτοῦ τὸν ὁμιλητὴν
τῆς σχολῆς ἐξηγούμενον.1
Textual Note
Ed. Bekker 1824-1825 with ref. Henry 1959Textual Note
Read ἐκεῖνου for ἐκεῖνο in Bekker and Henry.Translation
(Choricius of Gaza) flourished during the reign of Justinian. He
became a student of the orator Procopius (of Gaza), one of the most distinguished
figures. (This is) not the (Procopius) of Caesarea, who during
that time wrote historical works that comprised a great and valuable legacy and
bequeathed to scholars his own glory for eternal memory. (Choricius) studied with the
other (Procopius), who had obtained the Chair of Rhetoric in the same country [i.e.,
Gaza]. When he had reached old age, (Procopius) had the pleasure of seeing his pupil
(Choricius) take his place as head of the School.2
Translation Note
Adapted from Freese 1920 and Henry 1959Works Cited
- 1 Photius, Photii Bibliotheca, ed. Immanuel Bekker, 2 vols. (Berlin: G. Reimer, 1824), bk: 160, p: 102b41-103a6.
- 2 Photius, The Library of Photius, trans. John Henry Freese, Translations of Christian Literature 1 (London; New York: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge ; Macmillan Company, 1920), p: 230.
Additional Bibliography
- Photius, Photius: Bibliothèque, ed. René Henry and Jacques Schamp, 2nd printing, 9 vols., Collection Byzantine (Paris: Société d’édition «Les belles lettres», 1959), vol: 2, p: 122.
How to Cite This Entry
Joseph L. Rife, “Photius, Library 160,” in Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, entry published June 30, 2023, https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/403.
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Bibliography:
Joseph L. Rife, “Photius, Library 160.” In Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, edited by Joseph L. Rife., edited by Joseph L. Rife. Caesarea City and Port Exploration Project, 2023. Entry published June 30, 2023. https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/403.About this Entry
Entry Title: Photius, Library 160
Authorial and Editorial Responsibility:
- Joseph L. Rife, general editor, Vanderbilt University
- Joseph L. Rife, editor, Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia
- David A. Michelson, Daniel L. Schwartz, and William L. Potter, technical editor, “Photius, Library 160”
- Joseph L. Rife, entry contributor, “Photius, Library 160”
Additional Credit:
- Testimonium edited by Joseph L. Rife
- TEI record created by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium translated by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium transcribed by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium identified by Joseph L. Rife
- Editorial review by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium edited by Joseph L. Rife
- TEI record created by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium translated by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium transcribed by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonium identified by Joseph L. Rife
- Editorial review by Joseph L. Rife