Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams

Type 1918
(formerly typ/42)

	Ἐγὼ μέν εἰμι σὸς φύλαξ, στεφηφόρε,
	ὡς ἔγνως αὐτὸς πραγμάτων τὰς ἐκβάσεις·
	ὁ δʹ αὖ γε ῥήσεις καὶ χρυσοῦν φέρων στόμα
	ὁ συγγραφεὺς ἔστηκεν εἰς δυσωπίαν
	αἰτῶν σὺν ἡμῖν γραφέως τοῦ σοῦ χάριν
	ὃν εὐμενῶς βλέποις τε καὶ τρέφοις, ἄναξ.

Text source	A. Rhoby, 2018, Ausgewählte Byzantinische Epigramme in Illuminierten Handschriften, Wien: 158-159
Text status	Text completely known
Editorial status	Critical text
Genre(s)	Author-related epigram Patron-related epigram
Metre(s)	Dodecasyllable
Subject(s)	John Chrysostom (saint) Michael (archangel) Michael VII Doukas Parapinakes (1050 - 1090) - PBW: Michael/7/ Nikephoros III Botaneiates (1001-1081) - PBW: Nikephoros/3/
Tag(s)	Dedication Entreaty for a third person Praise of the author Prayer
Translation(s)	I am your protector, crown-bearer, As I have myself known the outcome of events. And this man, who possesses words and a mouth of gold, The author, stands here for an entreaty, Beseeching with me your mercy for your painter, Whom (may you) regard with a benevolent eye, and support, Lord! Language English Source(s) A. Paul 2012, Historical Figures Appearing in Epigrams on Objects, in F. Bernard, K. Demoen (eds.), Poetry and its Contexts in Eleventh-century Byzantium, Farnham/Burlington, 89-112: 98 While I am your guardian, oh wearer of the crown, as I know the outcome of events themselves, the one possessed of gilded mouth and speach, the author, stands in entreaty asking with us your goodwill for the scribe: may you favour and support him, oh King. Language English Source(s) I. Spatharakis, 1976, The Portrait in Byzantine Illuminated Manuscripts, Leiden: 112 Ich bin dein Beschützer, Träger der Krone, wie du selbst den Ausgang der Dinge erkannt hast. Jener wiederum, der Reden und einen goldenen Mund besitzt, der Autor, steht hier zur Bitte, indem er mit uns Gnade für deinen Schreiber erfleht, auf den du wohlwollend blicken und ihn unterstützen mögest, Herrscher! Language German Source(s) A. Rhoby, 2018, Ausgewählte Byzantinische Epigramme in Illuminierten Handschriften, Wien: 158
Comment	Epigram for a book (Coislin 79) originally intended for Michael VII Doukas, but upon his death slightly adjusted to fit the new emperor Nikephoros Botaneiates. The speaker here is the archangel Michael.
Bibliography	Primary D. Bianconi 2012, All'ombra dell'imperatore. Sui caratteri grafici, materiali e decorativi del Paris. Coisl. 79 (e del Lond. Add. 11870), in P. Fioretti (ed.), Storie di cultura scritta. Studi per Francesco Magistrale, Spoleto, 127-172: 166-168 D. Bianconi 2013, Libri e paratesti metrici a Bisanzio nell’ XI secolo. In margine a una recente pubblicazione, Medioevo Greco. Rivista di storia e filologia bizantina. (MEG), 13, 297-314: 310-311 H. Bordier, 1883, Description des peintures et autres ornements contenus dans les manuscrits grecs de la Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris: 131 C. Dumitrescu 1987, Remarques en marge du coislin 79: Les trois eunuques et le problème du donateur, Byzantion, 57(1), 32-45: 41-43 H. Omont, 1929, Miniatures des plus anciens manuscrits grecs de la Bibliothèque Nationale du VIe au XIVe Siècle, Paris: 34 A. Paul 2012, Historical Figures Appearing in Epigrams on Objects, in F. Bernard, K. Demoen (eds.), Poetry and its Contexts in Eleventh-century Byzantium, Farnham/Burlington, 89-112: 98 I. Spatharakis, 1976, The Portrait in Byzantine Illuminated Manuscripts, Leiden: 112 display 4 more references (7 in total) hide 4 references (7 in total) Secondary C. Astruc, M. Concasty, J. Porcher, 1958, Byzance et la France médiévale: manuscrits à peintures du IIe au XVIe siècle, Paris: 18-19
Number of verses	6
Occurrence(s)	[17052] ἐγω μέν εἰμι σὸς φύλαξ στεφηφόρε [1076-1100] PARIS - Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF) - Coisl. 79 [1076-1100] (f. 2v) (6 verses)
Acknowledgements	Contributor(s) Floris Bernard, Anne-Sophie Rouckhout, Maria Tomadaki The credits system has been implemented in 2019. Credits from before the new system was in use might be incomplete.
Identification	BEiÜ IV, FR32 Vassis ICB 2005, 167: "In imaginem Michaelis arch."
Permalink	https://www.dbbe.ugent.be/types/1918

Last modified: 2020-08-26.

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