Paul the Silentiary
Encyclopedia
Paul the Silentiary, also known as Paulus Silentiarius ' onMouseout='HidePop("42203")' href="/topics/Constantinople">Constantinople
, 575-580 AD), was an epigrammatist and an officer in the imperial household of the Byzantine
emperor Justinian I
, responsible for the silence (hence his name Silentiarius
) in the imperial palace.
Paul is best known for his hymn of praise
of the Hagia Sophia
, in which he describes the church's architectural and decorative characteristics after the reconstruction of the dome in 562. Paul treats the church as a meadow of marble, due to the many colours of marble employed in its construction. This elaborate verse eulogy
is an important source for imagining the magnificence of the basilica
before it was plundered many times in the course of history. The poem was probably commissioned by Justinian himself, and Paul had to read verses to the emperor through the inauguration of the basilica. It consists of 1029 verses in Greek
, starting with 134 lines of iambic trimeter
, with the remainder in the classical meter of epic, dactylic hexameter
.
About 80 of Paul's epigrams, a few sensual, are preserved in the Greek Anthology
. These epigrams draw on the literary conventions of classical antiquity
and are not identifiably Christian in content. They are interesting both because of their high literary quality and the social and historical information they contain.
He was a close friend of Agathias Scholastikos
, another author of epigrams, who provides some scarce data about his life.
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, 575-580 AD), was an epigrammatist and an officer in the imperial household of the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
emperor Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
, responsible for the silence (hence his name Silentiarius
Silentiarius
Silentiarius, Hellenized to silentiarios and Anglicized to silentiary, was the Latin title given to a class of courtiers in the Byzantine imperial court, responsible for order and silence in the Great Palace of Constantinople...
) in the imperial palace.
Paul is best known for his hymn of praise
Ecphrasis
Ekphrasis or ecphrasis is the graphic, often dramatic, description of a visual work of art. In ancient times it referred to a description of any thing, person, or experience...
of the Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey...
, in which he describes the church's architectural and decorative characteristics after the reconstruction of the dome in 562. Paul treats the church as a meadow of marble, due to the many colours of marble employed in its construction. This elaborate verse eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
is an important source for imagining the magnificence of the basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
before it was plundered many times in the course of history. The poem was probably commissioned by Justinian himself, and Paul had to read verses to the emperor through the inauguration of the basilica. It consists of 1029 verses in Greek
Medieval Greek
Medieval Greek, also known as Byzantine Greek, is the stage of the Greek language between the beginning of the Middle Ages around 600 and the Ottoman conquest of the city of Constantinople in 1453. The latter date marked the end of the Middle Ages in Southeast Europe...
, starting with 134 lines of iambic trimeter
Iambic trimeter
iambic trimeter is a meter of poetry consisting of three iambic units per line.In ancient Greek poetry, iambic trimeter is a quantitative meter, in which a line consisted of three iambic metra and each metron consisted of two iambi...
, with the remainder in the classical meter of epic, dactylic hexameter
Dactylic hexameter
Dactylic hexameter is a form of meter in poetry or a rhythmic scheme. It is traditionally associated with the quantitative meter of classical epic poetry in both Greek and Latin, and was consequently considered to be the Grand Style of classical poetry...
.
About 80 of Paul's epigrams, a few sensual, are preserved in the Greek Anthology
Greek Anthology
The Greek Anthology is a collection of poems, mostly epigrams, that span the classical and Byzantine periods of Greek literature...
. These epigrams draw on the literary conventions of classical antiquity
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
and are not identifiably Christian in content. They are interesting both because of their high literary quality and the social and historical information they contain.
He was a close friend of Agathias Scholastikos
Agathias
Agathias or Agathias Scholasticus , of Myrina , an Aeolian city in western Asia Minor , was a Greek poet and the principal historian of part of the reign of the Roman emperor Justinian I between 552 and 558....
, another author of epigrams, who provides some scarce data about his life.