Functions of Space in Two Lives of St. Theophano (BHG 1794 and 1795)
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | The life of Empress Theophano (ca. 866–896), wife of Emperor Leo VI, is preserved in two hagiographical accounts. The first (BHG 1794) was likely authored by an aristocrat with close ties to Theophano’s family and dates to the late ninth or early tenth century. This account transforms the empress’ sad life story into an idyllic one, emphasising her devotion to the pious life and extoling her relationship with her husband, despite their tumultuous marital history. The second text (BHG 1795) was written by Nikephoros Gregoras (ca. 1295–1360). This account stands out for its use of metaphorical language (including spatial metaphors), and shows a penchant for elegant expression, including frequent classical allusions and references to ancient mythology. The aim of my analysis is to examine the different functions of space in these two iterations of the same life story. Through a comparative analysis, I trace the changes in the conceptualisation of space, from its primarily functional role as a setting and spatial frame in the earlier vita to its more symbolic and multifaceted role in Gregoras’ work, including the characterisation of the protagonists. I do not aim to provide a comprehensive comparison between Middle Byzantine and Palaiologan hagiography or to comment on the evolutionary changes in the genre. The main purpose of my paper is to investigate how the nuanced use of spatial representation shapes the overall character of a narrative. |