Orestes and Pylades in Byzantine Historiography (Two Examples)  Cover Image

Orest i Pilad u vizantijskoj istoriografiji (dva primera)
Orestes and Pylades in Byzantine Historiography (Two Examples)

Author(s): Radivoj Radić, Dušan Kostić
Subject(s): History
Published by: Vizantološki institut SANU
Keywords: Orestes; Pylades; Byzantine historiography;

Summary/Abstract: This article analyzes two instances where Byzantine historians Anna Komnene and Nikephoros Gregoras used a syntagm about intimate and dedicated friendship between two ancient Greek mythological heroes, Orestes and Pylades. In The Alexiad it is a story about the brotherly relations between Alexios and Isaac Komnenoi, and in the Roman Histories Nikephoros Gregoras compares them to two contemporary rulers, two very close allies — the Byzantine emperor John Kantakouzenos and the Seljuk emir Umur. In both instances Byzantine writers very skillfully employed the metaphor about the friendship of Orestes and Pylades.

  • Issue Year: 2007
  • Issue No: 44
  • Page Range: 191-197
  • Page Count: 5
  • Language: English