Symeon Stylites the Younger and Late Antique Antioch: From Hagiography to History

287 Pages·2022·2.823 MB·English

by  Lucy Parker

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Symeon Stylites the
Younger and Late
Antique Antioch
From Hagiography to History
LUCY PARKER
GreatClarendonStreet,Oxford,OX26DP,
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Acknowledgements
ThisbookbeganitslifeasanOxfordD.Phil.thesis.IamverygratefultotheArts
andHumanitiesResearchCouncilforfundingmydoctorate.Ifinishedthebook
while working as a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, still in Oxford, and
would like to thank the British Academy for their support of my research. The
bookisthereforeaproductoftherichandstimulatingenvironmentoftheHistory
FacultyinOxford.IamgratefultoallthestudentsandtutorsinLateAntiqueand
ByzantineStudieswithwhomIhavediscussedByzantinereligionovertheyears,
andtoDavidTaylorforinspiringtuitioninSyriac.Icannotimagineabetterplace
to have worked on this project. Of many debts, two stand out. I was first
introduced to Byzantine history as an undergraduate student by the late Mark
Whittow. Mark was a wonderfully engaging and kind tutor, and remained a
source of support, wisdom, and good humour long after my student days. Like
somanyothers,Imisshimgreatly.Iamalsoveryindebtedtomysupervisor,Phil
Booth. Phil has been unfailingly generous and supportive to me, and his advice
has greatly improved my work. Among many kindnesses, he took the time to
teachmethebasicsofCoptic.
Iamverygratefultoeveryonewhohashelpedmeintheprocessofconverting
my thesis into a monograph. My doctoral examiners, Averil Cameron and
Vincent Déroche, gave me very helpful suggestions and constructive criticism;
Igreatlyappreciate theirsupport.After finishing my doctorate,Ibegan working
onthe‘StoriesofSurvival’projectinOxfordledbyJohn-PaulGhobrial.John-Paul
hasbeenawonderfulmentorandfriend,andIhavelearnedagreatdealfromhim.
IwouldalsoliketothankElizabethJeffreys,whowasveryencouragingwhenIfirst
considered publishing this book with Oxford Studies in Byzantium. I am very
gratefultoCharlotteLoveridgeandCathrynSteele,myeditors,andtoalltheteam
atOxfordUniversityPressforalltheirhelpthroughouttheprocessofpublication.
Ioweagreatdealtothesupportofmyfriendsandfamily.Icannotnamethem
all here, but would especially like to thank Otone, my house mate throughout
most of the time I worked on this project, for her unfailing friendship, support,
andenthusiasmaboutstylites.Ithasbeenajoytotalkabouthistory,religion,and
theancientworldwithAnastasia,Rosie,andLaura.Myhusband,Paul,hasbeena
constantsourceofencouragement.Wefirstmeteachotherafewmonthsbefore
I finished my doctorate. Several years later, we were in Scotland on our
viii 
honeymoonwhenIfoundoutthatmybookhadbeenacceptedbyOUP!Iamso
gratefulfortheloveandhappinessthathehasbroughtintomylife.
My greatest debt is to my parents, Jo and Robert, for the support of all kinds
which they have given me over the years. I could not have written this book
withoutthem,andIdedicateittothemwithloveandgratitude.
Contents
ListofFigures xi
NoteonTransliterationsandConventions xiii
Abbreviations xv
Introduction 1
1. AntiochandNorthernSyriaintheSixthCentury 16
DisastersinAntioch:ACityinDecline? 18
SocietyandCulture 32
Conclusion 54
2. TheSermonsofSymeonStylitestheYounger 55
TheEarlyChristianHomily 57
Authorship 59
Genre 72
Style 77
DemonsandMonks 83
HeavenandHell 90
RichandPoor 98
Conclusion 110
3. TheLifeofSymeonStylitestheYounger 113
TheHagiographer’sWorldview 121
Christology 126
OppositionandCrisis 134
Conclusion 167
4. TheLifeofMartha 169
CultPromotionandApologetic 172
AReorientationofPriorities 178
LiturgyandRitualPractice 183
Conclusion 194
5. HagiographyandtheCrisesoftheSixthand
SeventhCenturies 195
Saints’LivesandDisasters 196
ContextforCrisis:HeightenedExpectationsofHolyMen 204
MiracleCollections 209
Conclusion 216
Conclusion 219
Bibliography 227
Index 263