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The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor: Byzantine and Near Eastern History AD 284-813, tr. with commentary by Cyril Mango and Roger Scott with the assistance of Geoffrey Greatrex (Clarendon Press, Oxford 1997). Pp. c, 744. ISBN 0-19-822568-7. AUS $240, £80
This large book will quickly establish itself as an indispensible vade mecum for the study of late antique and early Byzantine history. Theophanes' Chronicle, covering the period from the accession of Diocletian to the renewal of iconoclasm, is the most extensive in the series of chronographic narratives descended from Eusebius' Canones. Sweeping not only in temporal coverage but geographically also, the Chronicle intersperses accounts of Constantinopolitan court and ecclesiastical politics with regular entries on Islamic Syria, as well as eastern and western Europe.
In addition to a reliable translation of the full text (superseding the partial translation of H. Turtledove, often used for undergraduate teaching), Mango and Scott provide a technical introduction, reviewing and advancing the status questionis of Theophanes studies, and an entry-by-entry commentary on sources, chronology, and historical context. The commentary appears in two sets of apparatus appended to each entry, one for sources, the other for explanatory notes. This system and its accompaning textual sigla renders the appearance of the translation rather complex, but the commentary is hugely useful. The Chronicle contains a very large amount of data, much of it derived from earlier sources, of which many were themselves compendia. Winnowing judiciously and authoritatively through each entry, Mango and Scott have performed the weighty task of identifying sources and comparanda, noting Theophanes' errors, and marking out valuable correct information and unique testimony. Brief bibliographies of modern studies are given in most notes. Users of this version of Theophanes' Chronicle thus have been given a valuable aid to guide them in the study of a complex and problematic text and its extensive body of modern criticism.
Andrew Gillett
Macquarie University
Members may be interested to note the following two periodicals in fields close to Byzantine Studies:
Antiquite Tardive: Revue internationale d'histoire et d'archeologie (IVe-VIIIe s.)
Published by Brepols on behalf of l'Association pour Antiquite Tardive, this quarto-sized, well presented journal began in 1993. The editorial board is predominantly European, especially Parisian, with one member in each of the UK, USA, and Canada. Each volume has a central theme, with the intention of producing primarily historical or archaeological volumes in alternative years (vol. 1: sarcophagi of Aquitaine; vol. 2 and 3: the Tetrarchy; vol. 4: double churches and grouped churches; vol. 5: the ruler in late antiquity).
The format of vol. 4, by way of example, consists of, firstly, a series of mostly short articles on the theme of the volume, some arranged by general topic and others in a characteristically European way by region. But a substantial number of articles not related to the main theme are included also, appearing as 'Varia'. Book reviews are likewise arranged first by theme, then by region. Articles appear in the main European academic languages, with summaries in at least one other language. The emphasis of the articles leans westwards, although there are corresponding editors specifically for Byzantine history and archaeology. I am told that this journal has been a hit for Brepols, which is currently printing the early volumes for the third time.
Antiquite Tardive is not held in any Australian library according to ABN, but volumes to date are on order for Macquarie University.
Early Medieval Europe
EME, published by Longman, began in late 1992 and quickly established a reputation as a journal of high quality. It is published in two slim but expensive octavo fascicles annually. The remit of EME is to address the history of Europe, including Britain, from the 4th to 11th centuries. There is therefore considerable overlap in intent with the older Frohmittelalterliche Studien, but the difference is primarily in the contributing authors, who are largely (but not entirely) British. Articles appear only in English. Initially edited by Tom Brown of Edinburgh, it is now overseen by Rosamond McKitterick of Cambridge (who also commanded the first-published volume of The New Cambridge Medieval History, vol. 2, AD 700-900). Each volume contains five or so lengthy articles, a review article or 'debate', and book reviews.
Apart from being of interest as a journal in a cognate field to Byzantine Studies, EME regularly features articles of direct interest to Byzantinists, especially those interested in East-West relations, e.g. vol. 2.1: R. McKitterick, "Ottonian Intellectual Culture in the Tenth Century and the Role of Theophanes"; vol. 4.1: Jonathon Shepard, "The Rhos Guests of Louis the Pious: Whence and Wherefore?"; vol. 6.2: Ian Wood, "The European Scientific Foundation's Programme on the Transformation of the Roman World and Emergence of Early Medieval Europe."
The complete run of EME is held by University of
Queensland (where John Moorhead is a corresponding editor) and Macquarie
University; vol. 2.1 onwards is held by ANU; vol. 4.1 by the University
of Melbourne.
Andrew Gillett
On a more modern note, the second volume of Hugh Gilchrist's monumental three-volume investigation of relations betweens Australians and Greeks has recently been launched.
Hugh Gilchrist, Australians
and Greeks, Halstead Press, Rushcutters Bay, NSW
Vol. 1, The Early Years, 1992, 431 pp. ca 150 plates;
ISBN 187568401-8
Vol. 2, The Middle Years, 1997, ISBN 187568402-6
For the 2 volumes as a set, ISBN 187568400-X price
$79.95
The third and final volume is in progress; no publication
date at this stage.
Ann Moffatt, a friend of the author, writes: Hugh Gilchrist is a Sydney University graduate whose first venture in publishing was as editor of the student newspaper Honi Soit. After serving in Australia and Papua New Guinea during the War he joined the Department of External Affairs. Along with other postings he was in Greece as a member of the U.N. Special Commission on the Balkans, and later Ambassador to Greece, then head of the Dept. of Foreign Affairs' Legal Division and finally Ambassador to Spain. He was instrumental in establishing the Canberra Friends of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens and is a member of the Friends of the Australian National University Classics Dept. Museum. His book is about the relationships in both directions between Australians and Greeks. It is an impressive work of research, ranging widely across the Australian landscape, picking up so many threads, and full of characters presented with a dry wit.
