Pinakes | Πίνακες

Résumé :

Ephraim of Ainos is an elusive figure in the landscape of Late Byzantine poetry. This chapter aims to provide a clearer outline of the profile of this author. It does so, first, by placing Ephraim’s Chronicle within the context of the historiographical metaphraseis of the Late Byzantine period. Second, it proceeds to examine some passages of Ephraim’s Chronicle in the light of a series of epigrams found in the margins of one of its sources, Niketas Choniates’ History. Then, third, this paper investigates Ephraim’s socio-cultural context and compositional techniques further by considering his Catalog of the Patriarchs of Constantinople. Overall, the chapter explores how Ephraim worked with his sources and his connections with literary trends and the dynamics of patronage in late Byzantium.