Abstract The Vienna Dioscorides (Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, med. gr. 1) is today the oldest known, relatively complete copy of an illustrated herbal. The current form of the Vienna Dioscorides is mainly the result of modifications in its early history. This article describes the stages of the manuscript’s creation and examines how this creation reflects its users’ conceptions of the volume. In its earliest form, the codex consisted solely of an illustrated herbal, which was then adapted to be a gift for the Byzantine princess Anicia Juliana in the early sixth century. Shortly thereafter, a later user, possibly Anicia Juliana herself, added several texts to the back of the volume, as well as an additional folio depicting a peacock at the beginning of the codex. This addition marks the expansion of the codex into a more comprehensive volume on natural history.
Abstract Moesia Superior’s Tribute to Philip the Arab. A Rare Document on Imperial Worship and Provincial Cities in the Third Century AD. The dedication of Moesia superior’s provincial assembly in 245 is exceptional in many respects. As it has reached us complete, it sheds new light on the ritual dialogue between the imperial power and the provincial cities. It shows that the imperial cult remained vibrant in the middle of the third century AD. It provides a valuable portrait of the cities of Moesia superior, allowing us to discuss a number of points concerning their history and topography. And it helps us to clarify the chronology of the reign of Philip the Arab and the date of the dies Caesaris of his son Philip the Younger (September 1, 244), and to place them in their political, military and religious context.
Abstract Generals, Armies of the East, and the Notitia Dignitatum This article provides a critical review of A. Kaldellis and M. Kruse’s book on the East Roman field armies, in which they attempt a renewed narrative of military history from Julian to Heraclius, supported by a redating of the Notitia Dignitatum Orientis to the 440s. Their revision of the history and fasti of the magistri militum , while rightfully calling for a more cautious interpretation of allusive literary sources, gives too much significance to the documentation’s shortcomings, and misuses legal evidence. Their revised history of the regional field armies also rests on methodological errors (e.g. confusion between comitatenses and the comitatus ), which lead them to exaggerate the organizational and numerical differences between the fourth- and fifth century military. Therefore, the hypothesis of a major military reorganization under by Theodosius II to face the Hunnic threat on the Danube in the 440s does not withstand scrutiny. Although the authors could be right in ascribing the Notitia Dignitatum Orientis to the reign of Theodosius II, there is no reason to believe that the document was compiled after 437/38, and a date of c . 425/7 might be preferred.
Abstract With reference to the commentary tradition on Genesis 1:11–2:1, the paper proposes that the ornamental visual language developed in early Frankish manuscript illumination can be understood as an artistic statement about the work of art-making in the context of a book. The essay explores the implications of Genesis iconography for a manuscript’s reader as well as its maker, taking the Luxeuil Homilies collection, Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibliothek, Cod. Guelf. 99 Weiss as its focal example.
Abstract This article examines literary production in cities of the late Roman Empire, showing that it can be considered an integral part of the popular culture of the time, using the theoretical approaches of Pierre Bourdieu and Stuart Hall. It explores several case studies from different cities of the Empire. It begins by analysing literary production in Antioch, highlighting the proliferation of abusive texts during Emperor Julian’s visit in 362-363. This is placed a wider context, relating both to Roman imperial power and to the power of verse as a literary form. Next, it turns to the case of Arius’s ‘Thalia’ in Alexandria, examining this text in the context of the city’s popular culture, as well as considering popular song in a more general sense. Finally, it looks at North Africa in Augustine’s time and examines evidence suggesting greater diversity in the literary production of this period than has generally been assumed. Overall, the article highlights the fact that literary production in late antique cities was an arena of struggle and negotiation, reflecting a complex and diverse process in which popular culture played a significant role.
