John the Lydian or John Lydus (Greek: Ἰωάννης Λαυρέντιος ὁ Λυδός; Latin: Ioannes Laurentius Lydus) (ca. AD 490 – ca. 565) was a Byzantine administrator and writer on antiquarian subjects.
He was born in 490 AD at Philadelphia in Lydia, whence his cognomen "Lydus". At an early age he set out to seek his fortune in Constantinople, and held high court and state offices in the praetorian prefecture of the East under Anastasius and Justinian. Around 543, Lydus was appointed to a chair of Latin language and literature at an institute of higher education of Constantinople. In 552, he lost Justinian's favour and was dismissed. The date of his death is not known, but he was probably alive during the early years of Justin II (reigned 565–578).
Literary work
During his retirement he occupied himself in the compilation of works on the antiquities of Rome, three of which have been preserved:
De Ostentis (Gr. Περὶ Διοσημείων), on the origin and progress of the art of divination
De Magistratibus reipublicae Romanae (Gr. Περὶ ἀρχῶν τῆς Ῥωμαίων πολιτείας), especially valuable for the administrative details of the time of Justinian; the work is now dated to 550 by Michael Maas.[1]
De Mensibus (Gr. Περὶ τῶν μηνῶν), a history of the different pagan festivals of the year.
The chief value of these books consists in the fact that the author made use of the works (now lost) of old Roman writers on similar subjects. Lydus was also commissioned by Justinian to compose a panegyric on the emperor, and a history of his campaign against Sassanid Persia; but these, as well as some poetical compositions, are lost.
He was interested in gynaecology and embryology and included several related passages in his "De Mensibus", with references to previous authors. His sources are mainly Greek, and two of them are Latin.[2]
Editions and translations
There is an edition of De Ostentis by Curt Wachsmuth (1897), with full account of the authorities in the prolegomena.
There is an edition of De Magistratibus and De Mensibus by Richard Wünsch (1898–1903).[3] See also the essay by CB Hase (the first editor of the De Ostentis) prefixed to I. Bekker's edition of Lydus (1837) in the Bonn Corpus scriptorum hist. Byzantinae.
For De Magistratibus, Wünsch's edition has been superseded by Anastasius C. Bandy's 1983 edition and translation.
See also:
The Works of Ioannis Lydus, Vols. I–IV (Edwin Mellen Press, 2013). New critical translations of De Mensibus, De Ostentis and De Magistratibus by Anastasius Bandy. Co-edited by Anastasia Bandy, Demetrios J. Constantelos and Craig J. N. de Paulo.
John the Lydian, De Magistratibus. On the Magistracies of the Roman Constitution. Translated by T. F. Carney. December 1971, Coronado Press.
John the Lydian, On powers, or, The magistracies of the Roman state / Ioannes Lydus; introduction, critical text, translation, commentary, and indices by Anastasius C. Bandy. Series: Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society, v. 149 ISSN 0065-9738. Philadelphia : American Philosophical Society, 1983, c1982. Greek text, parallel English translation. Based on the Codex Caseolinus.
Des magistratures de l'état romain. Jean le Lydien. Text, French translation and commentary by Michel Dubuisson, Jacques Schamp. Belles Lettres (2006)
Notes
^Michael Maas, John Lydus and the Roman Past (London-New York, 1992).
^Raf Pret, JOHN LYDUS, HELVIUS VINDICIANUS, AND THE CIRCULATION OF LATIN GYNAECOLOGICAL TEXTS IN SIXTH-CENTURY CONSTANTINOPLE, in After Constanine, 1 (May 2021), Orthodox Acadeymy of Crete, p. 37.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lydus, Joannes Laurentius". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 158.
External links
Corpus scriptorum historiae byzantinae (Bonn, 1837) edition of the works of John Lydus: Greek, with Latin translation at the bottom of each page.
Joannes Lydus Laurentius Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca: Greek, with analytical indexes
Teubner edition of De Mensibus (1898) by R. Wünsch. (Greek text only)
English translation of De Mensibus (with annotations and introduction) by Mischa Hooker, 2nd ed. (2017)
English translation of selected portions of De Mensibus, Book IV: months February-July, September-December, by Mischa Hooker (1st ed.)
January 10, 2023
john, lydian, john, lydus, greek, Ἰωάννης, Λαυρέντιος, Λυδός, latin, ioannes, laurentius, lydus, byzantine, administrator, writer, antiquarian, subjects, contents, life, career, literary, work, editions, translations, notes, references, external, linkslife, ca. John the Lydian or John Lydus Greek Ἰwannhs Layrentios ὁ Lydos Latin Ioannes Laurentius Lydus ca AD 490 ca 565 was a Byzantine administrator and writer on antiquarian subjects Contents 1 Life and career 2 Literary work 3 Editions and translations 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksLife and career EditHe was born in 490 AD at Philadelphia in Lydia whence his cognomen Lydus At an early age he set out to seek his fortune in Constantinople and held high court and state offices in the praetorian prefecture of the East under Anastasius and Justinian Around 543 Lydus was appointed to a chair of Latin language and literature at an institute of higher education of Constantinople In 552 he lost Justinian s favour and was dismissed The date of his death is not known but he was probably alive during the early years of Justin II reigned 565 578 Literary work EditDuring his retirement he occupied himself in the compilation of works on the antiquities of Rome three of which have been preserved De Ostentis Gr Perὶ Dioshmeiwn on the origin and progress of the art of divination De Magistratibus reipublicae Romanae Gr Perὶ ἀrxῶn tῆs Ῥwmaiwn politeias especially valuable for the administrative details of the time of Justinian the work is now dated to 550 by Michael Maas 1 De Mensibus Gr Perὶ tῶn mhnῶn a history of the different pagan festivals of the year The chief value of these books consists in the fact that the author made use of the works now lost of old Roman writers on similar subjects Lydus was also commissioned by Justinian to compose a panegyric on the emperor and a history of his campaign against Sassanid Persia but these as well as some poetical compositions are lost He was interested in gynaecology and embryology and included several related passages in his De Mensibus with references to previous authors His sources are mainly Greek and two of them are Latin 2 Editions and translations EditThere is an edition of De Ostentis by Curt Wachsmuth 1897 with full account of the authorities in the prolegomena There is an edition of De Magistratibus and De Mensibus by Richard Wunsch 1898 1903 3 See also the essay by CB Hase the first editor of the De Ostentis prefixed to I Bekker s edition of Lydus 1837 in the Bonn Corpus scriptorum hist Byzantinae For De Magistratibus Wunsch s edition has been superseded by Anastasius C Bandy s 1983 edition and translation See also The Works of Ioannis Lydus Vols I IV Edwin Mellen Press 2013 New critical translations of De Mensibus De Ostentis and De Magistratibus by Anastasius Bandy Co edited by Anastasia Bandy Demetrios J Constantelos and Craig J N de Paulo John the Lydian De Magistratibus On the Magistracies of the Roman Constitution Translated by T F Carney December 1971 Coronado Press John the Lydian On powers or The magistracies of the Roman state Ioannes Lydus introduction critical text translation commentary and indices by Anastasius C Bandy Series Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society v 149 ISSN 0065 9738 Philadelphia American Philosophical Society 1983 c1982 Greek text parallel English translation Based on the Codex Caseolinus Des magistratures de l etat romain Jean le Lydien Text French translation and commentary by Michel Dubuisson Jacques Schamp Belles Lettres 2006 Notes Edit Michael Maas John Lydus and the Roman Past London New York 1992 Raf Pret JOHN LYDUS HELVIUS VINDICIANUS AND THE CIRCULATION OF LATIN GYNAECOLOGICAL TEXTS IN SIXTH CENTURY CONSTANTINOPLE in After Constanine 1 May 2021 Orthodox Acadeymy of Crete p 37 full text at archive orgReferences Edit This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Lydus Joannes Laurentius Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 17 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 158 External links EditCorpus scriptorum historiae byzantinae Bonn 1837 edition of the works of John Lydus Greek with Latin translation at the bottom of each page Joannes Lydus Laurentius Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca Greek with analytical indexes Teubner edition of De Mensibus 1898 by R Wunsch Greek text only English translation of De Mensibus with annotations and introduction by Mischa Hooker 2nd ed 2017 English translation of selected portions of De Mensibus Book IV months February July September December by Mischa Hooker 1st ed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John the Lydian amp oldid 1123289906, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
