The Akritic Hero in Byzantine and Macedonian Epic Poetry
The Akritic Hero in Byzantine and Macedonian Epic Poetry

Summary/Abstract: Comparative analysis of the most prominent heroic characters of Byzantine (Armouris and Digenes) and Macedonian (King Marko) epic poetry uncovers numerous contact points that reveal a close relation between these two cultures over a longer period of time. By using the term “akritic hero” or border warrior in Byzantine and the term kraishnik in Macedonian epic poetry, the paper analyses the relation between these two representations of the same type of epic hero. Complex concordance is explored on several levels which illustrate several characteristic features of the Byzantine akritic heroes Digenes and King Marko in traditional Macedonian epic poetry. Both Digenes and Marko are lone horsemen roaming in restricted territory (Cappadocia and Macedonia), they fight as individuals with distinguished opponents and even with armies, and win the fights, slay the dragon in an identical manner; there are occurrences of child-heroes in the songs and the institution of the avunculate is particularly emphasised in the act of initiation etc. Unlike the monolithic character of Homeric heroes, in Byzantine and Macedonian epic poetry both Digenes and Marko are significantly more complex and occasionally inconsistent characters, which is due to their centuries-long shaping in territories where different cultural influences are interwoven.

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