The Art of Abuse: Satire and Invective in Byzantine Literature a Preliminary Survey

Abstract

This article discusses the Byzantine understanding of “satire” and “invective”. It argues that it is unwise to impose modern expectations and definitions on what we call Byzantine satire. It also shows that to find a clear-cut definition is simply impossible since Byzantine satire and invective are often interwoven and inseparable. Therefore, the main focus of the paper is on finding a theoretical framework for Byzantine satire and invective which is rooted in Byzantine writings rather than in modern definitions. There does not seem to be one designation which could be used as an “umbrella term” for Byzantine satirical production. Satire could be seen rather as a set of rhetorical strategies regulating tone, making satire more a mode than a firmly defined genre.