The Panhellenion mentioned by Synesius of Cyrene (Syn. Ep. 101.73): The problem of the Late Antique Hellenism evolution

The article investigates the problem of the so-called Panhellenion, mentioned by Synesius of Cyrene (Ep. 101.73) and denoting a circle of intellectuals, rhetoricians, sophists, and politicians. The circle existed at the court in Constantinople in the late 4th - early 5th centuries and has never been investigated before. The author's primary aim is to find out if there was a connection between the Julian circle of “Hellene” and the “Panhellenion” of Synesius. To reach the aim, the author studies the attitude of “Hellenes” to paideia and religion. The author uses textual and hermeneutic methods for analyzing the fragment in which Synesius describes the Panhellenion (Ep. 101.73). This fragment was studied by Alan Cameron, but without due regard to the historical context of using the term “Hellene”. Analyzing the context of the statement about the Panhellenion, the author clarifies the time of existence and the peculiarities of the functioning of the circle. The study of Synesius' usage of the word “Hellene” helps us to understand how unique this circle of Hellenes was at that time. The author suggests that the members of the Panhellenion, under the leadership of the rhetorician Troilus, sought to combine the classical paideia with Christianity. Comparing Synesius' attitude to Hellenism with the Hellenistic ideology of Emperor Julian, Libanius and Himerius, the author concludes that there is no direct ideological continuity between the “Hellenes” of Julian and the Panhellenion, although a certain typological similarity can be found. However Synesius, in contrast to Julian and his supporters, interpreted Hellenism outside of religion. He even interpreted Christianity more in terms of social networks and political ideology. The desacralization of paideia made it possible to prepare the intellectual community of the Hellenes for Christianization. Synesius himself was experiencing a crisis of self-identity, but he was still not a Christian in the full sense of the word. The Panhellenion, of which he considered himself a member, was not a secret pagan organization. Probably, its members were sympathetic to Christianity, a sign of which could be Synesius' acceptance of the bishopric. Synesius' attitude to Hellenism may also indicate the evolution of Late Antique Hellenism as well. The author believes that this evolution proceeded towards the weakening of the religious component within the classical paideia. That is why the opposition to Christianity softened. As a result of this process, Hellenism was involved in Christianization, as evidenced by both the Panhellenion and the life path of Synesius himself.

Keywords

Authors

References