This article is about the historian. For the bishop and biblical commentator of the same name, see Theophylact of Ohrid.
Theophylact Simocatta (Byzantine Greek: Θεοφύλακτος Σιμοκάτ(τ)ης Theophýlaktos Simokát(t)ēs; Latin: Theophylactus Simocatta)[1] was an early seventh-century Byzantine historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of Late Antiquity, writing in the time of Heraclius (c. 630) about the late Emperor Maurice (582–602).[2]
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius receiving the submission of the Sassanid king Khosrau II – during Simocatta's times (plaque from a cross. Champlevé enamel over gilt copper, 1160–1170, Meuse Valley). Housed at the Louvre.
Simocatta is best known as the author of History, a work split into eight books, about the reign of the emperor Maurice (582–602), for which period he is the best and oldest authority. Though his work is of lesser stature than that of Procopius and his self-consciously classicizing style is pompous, he is an important source of information concerning the seventh-century Slavs, the Avars and the Persians, and the emperor's tragic end.[3] He mentions the war of Heraclius against the Persians (610–628), but not that against the Arabs (beginning 629), so it is likely that he was writing around 630. Among his sources he used the history of John of Epiphania.
His want of judgement renders him diffuse in trifles and concise in the most interesting facts.[4]
This notwithstanding, Simocatta's general trustworthiness is admitted. The history contains an introduction in the form of a dialogue between History and Philosophy.
Nicolaus Copernicus translated Greek verses by Theophylact into Latin prose and had his translation, dedicated to his uncle Lucas Watzenrode, published in Kraków in 1509 by Johann Haller. It was the only book that Copernicus ever brought out on his own account.[5]
Simocatta was also the author of Physical Problems, a work on natural history,[6] and of a collection of 85 essays in epistolary form.[7]
Quaestiones physicae (in Latin). Leiden: Jan Paedts Jacobszoon. 1597.
Theophylact Simocatta. The History of Theophylact Simocatta - An English Translation with Introduction and Notes. Translated by Michael Whitby; Mary Whitby.
Notesedit
^"Snub-nosed cat". Other forms of the name are Simocattos and Simocatos.
^J.D.C. Frendo, "History and Panegyric in the Age of Heraclius: The Literary Background to the Composition of the 'Histories' of Theophylact Simocatta", Dumbarton Oaks Papers, 1988.
^Important editions published in 1609, ed. pr. by J. Pontanus, and C.G. de Boor in 1887.
^E. Gibbon, The History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire, The Folio Society (1997), s.v. "Simocatta".
^Angus Armitage, The World of Copernicus, pp. 75–77.
^Cf. ed. J. Ideler in Physici et medici Graeci minores, i. 1841.
^The best edition is published in the prestigious Bibliotheca Teubneriana: Zanetto, Ioseph [Giuseppe] (1985). "Theophylacti Simocatae epistulae" [The Letters of Theophylactus Simocata]. Bibliotheca Scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana (in Greek and Latin). Leipzig: BSB B.G. Teubner Verlagsgesellschaft. ISSN 0233-1160. The letters were translated into Latin by Copernicus in 1509, reprinted in 1873 by F. Hipler in Spicilegium Copernicanum. See also Zanetto, Giuseppe (2013). "Romanzo greco ed epistolografia: il caso di Teofilatto Simocatta". Lettere, mimesi, retorica: studi sull'epistolografia letteraria greca di età imperiale e tardoantica. Lecce–Brescia: Pensa Multimedia. pp. 469–491. ISBN978-88-6760-097-7.
Michael and Mary Whitby, translators, The History of Theophylact Simocatta: An English Translation with Introduction, Oxford University Press, 1986, ISBN0-19-822799-X, 9780198227991
Angus Armitage, The World of Copernicus, New York, Mentor Books, 1947.
Yule, Henry (1915). Henri Cordier (ed.), Cathay and the Way Thither: Being a Collection of Medieval Notices of China, Vol I: Preliminary Essay on the Intercourse Between China and the Western Nations Previous to the Discovery of the Cape Route. London: Hakluyt Society. Accessed 21 September 2016.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Simocatta, Theophylact". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 124.
External linksedit
Whitby, Michael (2015). "Theophylact Simocatta". Encyclopaedia Iranica.
Greek Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca with analytical indexes
Raw Greek OCR of Carl de Boor's Teubner edition Theophylacti Simocattae Historiae (1887) from the Lace collection at Mount Allison University.
January 01, 1970
theophylact, simocatta, this, article, about, historian, bishop, biblical, commentator, same, name, theophylact, ohrid, byzantine, greek, Θεοφύλακτος, Σιμοκάτ, ης, theophýlaktos, simokát, latin, theophylactus, simocatta, early, seventh, century, byzantine, his. This article is about the historian For the bishop and biblical commentator of the same name see Theophylact of Ohrid Theophylact Simocatta Byzantine Greek 8eofylaktos Simokat t hs Theophylaktos Simokat t es Latin Theophylactus Simocatta 1 was an early seventh century Byzantine historiographer arguably ranking as the last historian of Late Antiquity writing in the time of Heraclius c 630 about the late Emperor Maurice 582 602 2 Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksLife edit nbsp Byzantine Emperor Heraclius receiving the submission of the Sassanid king Khosrau II during Simocatta s times plaque from a cross Champleve enamel over gilt copper 1160 1170 Meuse Valley Housed at the Louvre Simocatta is best known as the author of History a work split into eight books about the reign of the emperor Maurice 582 602 for which period he is the best and oldest authority Though his work is of lesser stature than that of Procopius and his self consciously classicizing style is pompous he is an important source of information concerning the seventh century Slavs the Avars and the Persians and the emperor s tragic end 3 He mentions the war of Heraclius against the Persians 610 628 but not that against the Arabs beginning 629 so it is likely that he was writing around 630 Among his sources he used the history of John of Epiphania Edward Gibbon wrote His want of judgement renders him diffuse in trifles and concise in the most interesting facts 4 This notwithstanding Simocatta s general trustworthiness is admitted The history contains an introduction in the form of a dialogue between History and Philosophy Nicolaus Copernicus translated Greek verses by Theophylact into Latin prose and had his translation dedicated to his uncle Lucas Watzenrode published in Krakow in 1509 by Johann Haller It was the only book that Copernicus ever brought out on his own account 5 Simocatta was also the author of Physical Problems a work on natural history 6 and of a collection of 85 essays in epistolary form 7 In regards to the Far East Simocatta wrote a generally accurate depiction of the reunification of China by Emperor Wen r 581 604 AD of the Sui Dynasty with the conquest of the rival Chen Dynasty in southern China correctly placing these events within the reign period of Byzantine ruler Maurice 8 Simocatta also provided cursory information about the geography of China along with its customs and culture deeming its people idolatrous but wise in governance 8 He also related how the ruler was named Taisson the meaning of which was Son of God possibly derived from Chinese Tianzi Son of Heaven a title of the emperor of China or even the name of the contemporaneous ruler Emperor Taizong of Tang 9 Works edit nbsp Quaestiones physicae 1597 Quaestiones physicae in Latin Leiden Jan Paedts Jacobszoon 1597 Theophylact Simocatta The History of Theophylact Simocatta An English Translation with Introduction and Notes Translated by Michael Whitby Mary Whitby Notes edit Snub nosed cat Other forms of the name are Simocattos and Simocatos J D C Frendo History and Panegyric in the Age of Heraclius The Literary Background to the Composition of the Histories of Theophylact Simocatta Dumbarton Oaks Papers 1988 Important editions published in 1609 ed pr by J Pontanus and C G de Boor in 1887 E Gibbon The History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire The Folio Society 1997 s v Simocatta Angus Armitage The World of Copernicus pp 75 77 Cf ed J Ideler in Physici et medici Graeci minores i 1841 The best edition is published in the prestigious Bibliotheca Teubneriana Zanetto Ioseph Giuseppe 1985 Theophylacti Simocatae epistulae The Letters of Theophylactus Simocata Bibliotheca Scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana in Greek and Latin Leipzig BSB B G Teubner Verlagsgesellschaft ISSN 0233 1160 The letters were translated into Latin by Copernicus in 1509 reprinted in 1873 by F Hipler in Spicilegium Copernicanum See also Zanetto Giuseppe 2013 Romanzo greco ed epistolografia il caso di Teofilatto Simocatta Lettere mimesi retorica studi sull epistolografia letteraria greca di eta imperiale e tardoantica Lecce Brescia Pensa Multimedia pp 469 491 ISBN 978 88 6760 097 7 a b Yule 1915 pp 29 31 Yule 1915 p 29 footnote 4 References editMichael and Mary Whitby translators The History of Theophylact Simocatta An English Translation with Introduction Oxford University Press 1986 ISBN 0 19 822799 X 9780198227991 Angus Armitage The World of Copernicus New York Mentor Books 1947 Yule Henry 1915 Henri Cordier ed Cathay and the Way Thither Being a Collection of Medieval Notices of China Vol I Preliminary Essay on the Intercourse Between China and the Western Nations Previous to the Discovery of the Cape Route London Hakluyt Society Accessed 21 September 2016 nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Simocatta Theophylact Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 25 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 124 External links editWhitby Michael 2015 Theophylact Simocatta Encyclopaedia Iranica Greek Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca with analytical indexes Raw Greek OCR of Carl de Boor s Teubner edition Theophylacti Simocattae Historiae 1887 from the Lace collection at Mount Allison University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theophylact Simocatta amp oldid 1192252592, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
