Dab solver - Pamprepius

Most tools require the use of JavaScript. If you are using Firefox with the NoScript addon, please mark toolserver.org as trusted. See the Help page for details.

Feedback / Report a bug

0 points on this page / 17,981 points earned collectively this month / Disambiguate pages on your watchlist

== Works ==

Pamprepius composed two works, now lost:

*  Ἰσαυρικὰ, Isaurica: an epic poem about [[Isauria]], the region in [[Asia Minor]] that was the country of origin of both [[Illus]] and [[Zeno (emperor)|]]. It either celebrated Zeno's restoration against [[Basiliscus]] in 476, or it was a celebration of Illus;
*  Ἐτυμολογιῶν ἀπόδοσις, Etymologiarum expositio, prose
Some fragments have been attributed to Pamprepius. Among them a panegyric to [[Theagenes (patrician)|]] and a lamentation on leaving Athens.^ref

==  Notes  ==

{{Reflist|2}}

==  Bibliography  ==

Pamprepius' life is known through [[Suda]], which collects under his article three or four narrations not completely coherent among themselves::

* "Παμπρέπιος", [[Suda]], [http://www.stoa.org/sol-bin/search.pl?login=guest&enlogin=guest&db=REAL&field=adlerhw_gr&searchstr=pi,136] and [http://www.stoa.org/sol-bin/search.pl?login=guest&enlogin=guest&db=REAL&field=adlerhw_gr&searchstr=pi,137]

Other information is contained in the summaries of the Historia of  and in the Vita Isidori of [[Damascius]] contained in the Bibliotheca di [[...|Photius]]:
* [[...|Photius]], [[Bibliotheca (Photius)|]], codices 79 and 242.

Modern essays on Pamprepius are:

Single scrollbar

'''Pamprepius''' (Greek: Παμπρέπιος, ''Pamprépios''; Latin: ''Pamprepius''; 29 September 440  – November 484) was a philosopher and a Pagan poet who rebelled against the [[Eastern Roman Emperor]] [[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]].

[[Damascius]] described him as a brilliant poet, [[Malchus (historian)|Malchus]] as an acute politician, but ugly, arrogant, unscrupulous and treacherous; [[Rhetorius]], an Egyptian astrologer, called him a charlatan and a libertine. He has been compared to [[Claudian]], as both these poets enjoyed eight years of political power at the side of usurpers. He is considered the last pagan poet.<ref>Nagy, pp. 499-500, 508.</ref>

His life is known with unusual precision, as his horoscope calculated by Rhetorius in the early sixth century has been found.<ref>The horoscope is translated and commented in O. Neugebauer, H. B. Van Hoesen, ''Greek Horoscopes'', Diane Publishing, 1987, ISBN 0-87169-048-9, pp. 140-141.</ref>

== Biography ==
=== Education ===

Pamprepius was born in Egypt, at [[Panopolis]], near [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]], on 29 September 440; the discovery of a horoscope, which has been identified with that of Pamprepius, let us know that he was born at 15:48.<ref>Nagy, p. 486.</ref> He was ugly, but he had considerable intellectual qualities. He devoted himself to literature, especially to poetry; probably he belonged to the school of [[Nonnus of Panopolis]], a native of his own city. He became very famous as a poet in his country. At the age of 33 years, in 473, he moved to Greece, where he spent much time in [[Athens]], marrying a rich woman and becoming a professor of grammar (philology). At the same time he studied philosophy under the neo-Platonic philosopher [[Proclus]], who had, among his students, the Roman general [[Marcellinus (magister militum)|Marcellinus]], the Western Roman Emperor [[Anthemius]], and the consuls [[Illustrius Pusaeus]] and [[Messius Phoebus Severus]].<ref>O'Meara, Dominic, ''Platonopolis: Platonic Political Philosophy in Late Antiquity'', Oxford University Press, 2003, ISBN 0-19-925758-2, p. 21.</ref>

In Athens he had found a patron in [[Theagenes (patrician)|Theagenes]], an important citizen of Athens, possibly a magistrate, who was also a supporter of Proclus'. In his honour Pamprepius composed a poem. However, later Pamprepius came into conflict with Theagenes, even suffering physical damages, and Theagenes investigated in a case held against Pamprepius. It is possible that the reason for this attack was linked to his ambition of becoming the most famous of all philosophers with the exception of Proclus. Because of this contrast, he was obliged to leave Athens with haste.<ref>Edward Watts, ''City and School in Late Antique Athens and Alexandria'', University of California Press, 2008, ISBN 0-520-25816-9, pp. 119-120; Nagy, p. 30..</ref>

=== Collaborator of Illus ===

From Athens he went to [[Constantinople]], where he arrived in May 476 (at the age of 35 years 8 months). Here he introduced himself as a magician or an initiator and achieved fame thanks to his culture and his professional skills. An [[Isauria]]n officer called Marsus introduced him to the powerful [[Illus]], the Isaurian ''[[magister militum]]'' of the Isaurian emperor [[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]]. Pamprepius earned Illus' favour reading out a speech on the soul; Illus used his own influence to have Pamprepius appointed professor, raising his public salary with his personal funds, and sending him some disciples.

His close relationship with Illus and the influence he exerted over the general inspired once more the envy of many. His reputation suffered from his practice of [[divination]], while his open support of [[Paganism]] in a Christian city as Constantinople was could only cause him more enemies. Among these there were emperor Zeno and the Dowager Empress [[Verina]] (wife of Zeno's father-in-law and predecessor). Once, while  Illus was travelling to his native Isauria, Pamprepius was sentenced to exile by the Emperor on charges of attempting to use his divination skills in favour of Illus and against Zeno; he was therefore sent to [[Pergamum]]. Illus, who knew well that the cause of the exile of the poet had been their friendship, welcomed Pamprepius at his own home and, on his return to the capital, he brought Pamprepius back with him. Illus had Pamprepius appointed senator, honorary consul,<ref>Rhetorius talks about the consulate, which was probably honorary, and the patriciate. John of Antioch (fragment 211.3) records the questorship and the patriciate (Robert A. Kaster, ''Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity'', University of California Press, 1997, ISBN 0-520-21225-8, p. 330).</ref> ''[[quaestor sacri palatii]]'' and, after some time, ''[[patrikios|patricius]]'', a most prestigious position.

In 479 [[Marcian (usurper)|Marcian]], son of the late Western Emperor [[Anthemius]] and brother of Zeno, revolted and laid siege to the Eastern Emperor in Constantinople. Initially Illus lost heart, but Pamprepius declared that providence was on their side, and when Illus captured the rebels, Pamprepius gained a reputation as a clairvoyant. Since then, Illus always kept close to him Pamprepius, consulting him frequently. The two spent the winter of 479/480 at [[Nicaea]], as Pamprepius was unpopular in Constantinople.

=== Revolt against Zeno ===
In late 481 or early 482, Pamprepius went in Egypt, to [[Alexandria]], where he met representatives of the Pagan community. He tried to persuade them to help him in a revolt against [[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]], showing them oracles and prophecies that ensured the imminent collapse of Christianity; however, he did not gain their support. He also took part in the disputes between the various Christian sects, supporting the election of the Nicene [[John Talaia]] as opposed to the [[Monophysite]] [[Peter Mongus]], but again he was unsuccessful.<ref>Alois Grillmeier ''et al.'', ''Christ in Christian Tradition'', Continuum International Publishing Group, 1975, ISBN 0-264-66018-8, pp. 91-92.</ref>

The power plays at court - involving Zeno, [[Verina]], [[Illus]] and [[Ariadne (empress)|Ariadne]], daughter of Verina and wife of Zeno - degenerated into a riot, in which Illus was the target of two assassination attempts by Verina and Ariadne. In 484 Illus decided to withdraw from the court and move with Pamprepius to [[Nicaea]]; as he had been appointed ''[[magister militum]] per Orientem'', he moved to the East to take office and with the excuse of looking for a better climate to heal the wound suffered in the second assassination attempt.

While there, however, he started a rebellion against Zeno, elevating to the throne [[Leontius (usurper)|Leontius]], a Syrian officer, and appointing Pamprepius his ''[[magister officiorum]]''. After some initial victories, Illus' troops were defeated by the army of Zeno and forced to take refuge in the fortress of [[Papurius]], in [[Isauria]]. Illus discovered that Pamprepius wanted to betray his fellows to save himself, and in November 484 put him to death and had his head thrown over the battlements of the fortress.<ref>Nagy, p. 499.</ref> According to some modern scholars, Pamprepius did not want to betray his patron, but the failure of his political schemes was interpreted as deception by Illus' men.<ref>R. Asmus, "Pamprepios, ein byzantinischer Gelehrter und Staatsmann des 5. Jahrhunderts", ''Byzantinische Zeitschrift'' 22 (1913), 337-347; against this interpretation, R. Keydell, "Pamprepios", ''PWK'' 18,3 (1949) 409-15 (cited in Grillimer).</ref>

Some scholars have suggested that Pamprepius' participation is a clue that the revolt of Illus was somehow an attempt to restore Paganism, but this hypothesis has not been successful among scholars. However, it is known that the rebels sought the support of the Pagan community of Alexandria: in fact, they were persecuted because they were suspected of being part of Illus' rebellion.<ref>The Pagan community of Alexandria came under attack by the patriarch [[Peter III of Alexandria]]. Members of the Pagan culture like [[Damascius]] stressed the fact that the Pagan community in Alexandria had rejected the ideas of Pamprepius, perhaps to distance themselves from the suspicion of supporting the revolt of Illus and Pamprepius (Haas, Christopher,''Alexandria in Late Antiquity,''Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006, ISBN 0-8018-5377-X, p. 326).</ref> A Pagan convert to Christianity called Paralius wrote a letter to his former co-religionists, in which he remembers how they had prayed and sacrificed for the success of the revolt of Illus and Pamprepius against Zeno and how they had received many oracles showing the victory of the heathen, but how in the end the "powerful" Christianity had prevailed.<ref>Lee, A.D., ''Pagans and Christians in Late Antiquity: A Sourcebook'', Routledge, 2000, ISBN 0-415-13892-2, p. 134.</ref>

==Works==

Pamprepius composed two works, now lost:

*  Ἰσαυρικὰ, ''Isaurica'': an epic poem about [[Isauria]], the region in [[Asia Minor]] that was the country of origin of both [[Illus]] and [[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]]. It either celebrated Zeno's restoration against [[Basiliscus]] in 476, or it was a celebration of Illus;
*  Ἐτυμολογιῶν ἀπόδοσις, ''Etymologiarum expositio'', prose
Some fragments have been attributed to Pamprepius. Among them a panegyric to [[Theagenes (patrician)|Theagenes]] and a lamentation on leaving Athens.<ref>Nagy, p. 486.</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Bibliography ==
Pamprepius' life is known through ''[[Suda]]'', which collects under his article three or four narrations not completely coherent among themselves::

* "Παμπρέπιος", ''[[Suda]]'', [http://www.stoa.org/sol-bin/search.pl?login=guest&enlogin=guest&db=REAL&field=adlerhw_gr&searchstr=pi,136] and [http://www.stoa.org/sol-bin/search.pl?login=guest&enlogin=guest&db=REAL&field=adlerhw_gr&searchstr=pi,137]

Other information is contained in the summaries of the ''Historia'' of <<link:0>> and in the ''Vita Isidori'' of [[Damascius]] contained in the ''Bibliotheca'' di [[Photios I of Constantinople|Photius]]:
* [[Photios I of Constantinople|Photius]], ''[[Bibliotheca (Photius)|Bibliotheca]]'', codices 79 and 242.

Modern essays on Pamprepius are:
* Bury, John Bagnell, ''A History of the Later Roman Empire from Arcadius to Irene (395 A.D. -800 A.D.)'', Adamant Media Corporation, 2005, ISBN 1-4021-8369-0, p.&nbsp;258.
* Grillmeier, Alois, e Theresia Hainthaler, ''Christ in Christian Tradition'', Westminster John Knox Press, 1996, ISBN 0-664-22300-1, pp.&nbsp;91–92.
* Nagy, Gregory, ''Greek Literature'', Routledge, 2001, ISBN 0-415-93770-1, pp.&nbsp;473, 481.
* Smith, William, "Illus", ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', Volume 2, [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/1678.html p. 570]; "Pamprepius", ''ibidem'', Volume 3, [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2438.html pp. 104-105].

{{Persondata 
| NAME              = Pamprepius
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH     = 440
| PLACE OF BIRTH    =
| DATE OF DEATH     = 484
| PLACE OF DEATH    =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pamprepius}}
[[Category:440 births]]
[[Category:484 deaths]]
[[Category:5th-century Byzantine people]]
[[Category:Senators of the Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Byzantine rebels]]
[[Category:Byzantine philosophers]]
[[Category:Byzantine poets]]
[[Category:Clairvoyants]]
[[Category:Roman-era Egyptians]]
[[Category:Magistri officiorum]]
[[Category:Patricii]]

Edit summary:
This is a minor edit Watch this page

Cancel

Dab solver - Pamprepius

Tools

Interaction