Book Description

Imperial Panegyric from Diocletianto Honorius examines one of the most importantliteratures of the late Roman period - speeches of praise addressed to the reigningemperor - and the panegyrical culture of the late Roman world more generally. Unlikemuch previous work on this topic, Imperial Panegyric takes a consciously comparativeapproach, especially between eastern and western, Greek and Latin texts. Each contributordraws upon evidence taken from multiple authors or from different kinds of panegyricin order to explore both the communal and the particular in this most idiosyncraticof media. The volume investigates to what extent therewas a unified concept of imperial panegyric, and how local circumstances shapedindividual speeches. It also considers the ways in which traditional forms of praise-givingrespond to fourth-century phenomena such as the expansion of Christianity, collegialrulership, and the decline of Rome as the political centre of the empire. Itscontributors include a roster of some of the most important names in the fieldof panegyric studies, both established researchers and the rising stars of thenew generation.