Rhetorical Exercises from Late Antiquity
A Translation of Choricius of Gaza's Preliminary Talks and Declamations

The first translation of the Declamations and Preliminary Talks of the sixth-century sophist Choricius of Gaza.

Choricius (Author), Robert J. Penella (Edited by), Eugenio Amato (With), Malcolm Heath (With), George A. Kennedy (With), Terry L. Papillon (With), William R. Reader (With), D. A. Russell (With), Simon Swain (With)

9780521848732, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 September 2009

336 pages
23.4 x 16.2 x 2 cm, 0.67 kg

'This edition is well written and well edited … Penella expresses the wish at the end of his introduction that this translation will make Choricius and the School of Gaza better known. I believe he has admirably accomplished this goal.' Heather Waddell Gruber, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

The first translation, produced by a team of eight scholars, of the Declamations and Preliminary Talks of the sixth-century sophist Choricius of Gaza. Declamations, deliberative or judicial orations on fictitious themes, were the fundamental advanced exercises of the rhetorical schools of the Roman Empire, of interest also to audiences outside the schools. Some of Choricius' declamations are on generic themes (e.g. a tyrannicide, a war-hero), while others are based on specific motifs from Homeric times or from classical Greek history. The Preliminary Talks were typical prefaces to orations of all kinds. This volume also contains a detailed study of Choricius' reception in Byzantium and Renaissance Italy. It will be of interest to students of late antiquity, ancient rhetoric, and ancient education.

Introduction Robert J. Penella
Part I. Choricius, Preliminary Talks Robert J. Penella
Part II. Choricius, Declamations: 1. Declamation 1 [X]: 'Polydamas' D. A. Russell
2. Declamation 2 [XII]: 'Priam' D. A. Russell
3. Declamation 3 [XIV]: 'The Lydians' Simon Swain
4. Declamation 4 [XVII]: 'Miltiades' Simon Swain
5. Declamation 5 [XX]: 'The Young War-Hero' D. A. Russell
6. Declamation 6 [XXIII]: 'The Miserly Old Man' D. A. Russell
7. Declamation 7 [XXVI]: 'The Tyrannicide' Malcolm Heath
8. Declamation 8 [XXIX]: 'A Spartan Citizen' George A. Kennedy
9. Declamation 9 [XXXV]: 'The Child-Killer' Malcolm Heath
10. Declamation 10 [XXXVIII]: 'Patroclus' William W. Reader
11. Declamation 11 [XL]: 'The War-Hero' Terry L. Papillon
12. Declamation 12 [XLII]: 'An Orator' George A. Kennedy
Epilogue. The fortune and reception of Choricius and of his works Eugenio Amato.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]