Synecdemus
Encyclopedia
The Synecdemus or Synekdemos is a geographic text, attributed to Hierocles
, which contains a table of administrative divisions of the Byzantine Empire
and lists of the cities of each. The work is dated to the reign of Justinian but prior to 535
, as it divides the 912 listed cities in the Empire among 64 Eparchies
. The Synecdemus is thus one of the most invaluable monuments which we have to study the political geography of the sixth century East. The Synecdemus, along with the work of Stephanus of Byzantium
were the principal sources of Constantine VII
's work on the Themes (De Thematibus).
The Synecdemus has been published in various editions from 1735, notably by Gustav Parthey (Hieroclis Synecdemus; Berlin, 1866) and slightly later in a corrected text by A. Burckhardt in the Teubner series (Hieroclis Synecdemus; Leipzig, 1893). The most recent major publication was by E. Honigmann (Le Synekdèmos d'Hiéroklès et l'opuscule géographique de Georges de Chypre; Brussels, 1939).
Hierocles (author of Synecdemus)
Hierocles or Hierokles was a Byzantine geographer of the sixth century and the attributed author of the Synecdemus or Synekdemos, which contains a table of administrative divisions of the Byzantine Empire and lists of the cities of each...
, which contains a table of administrative divisions of the Byzantine Empire
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...
and lists of the cities of each. The work is dated to the reign of Justinian but prior to 535
535
Year 535 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Belisarius without colleague...
, as it divides the 912 listed cities in the Empire among 64 Eparchies
Eparchy
Eparchy is an anglicized Greek word , authentically Latinized as eparchia and loosely translating as 'rule over something,' like province, prefecture, or territory, to have the jurisdiction over, it has specific meanings both in politics, history and in the hierarchy of the Eastern Christian...
. The Synecdemus is thus one of the most invaluable monuments which we have to study the political geography of the sixth century East. The Synecdemus, along with the work of Stephanus of Byzantium
Stephanus of Byzantium
Stephen of Byzantium, also known as Stephanus Byzantinus , was the author of an important geographical dictionary entitled Ethnica...
were the principal sources of Constantine VII
Constantine VII
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos or Porphyrogenitus, "the Purple-born" was the fourth Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire, reigning from 913 to 959...
's work on the Themes (De Thematibus).
The Synecdemus has been published in various editions from 1735, notably by Gustav Parthey (Hieroclis Synecdemus; Berlin, 1866) and slightly later in a corrected text by A. Burckhardt in the Teubner series (Hieroclis Synecdemus; Leipzig, 1893). The most recent major publication was by E. Honigmann (Le Synekdèmos d'Hiéroklès et l'opuscule géographique de Georges de Chypre; Brussels, 1939).