Goarus, the
Parisian
editor,
## p.
## p.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
, by Gregorius commemorated in No.
2.
.
It is ascribed to George
Aneponymus (i. e. without a sumame); the other by his editor Quercius on internal evidence, which
as Compendium Philosophiae, Gr. Lat. , by Georgius cannot, however, be regarded as conclusive. 4. Els
Aneponymus. The two are probably one and the την αγίαν του Χριστού του Θεού ημών ανάστασιν,
same work (comp. Fabr. Bibl. Gr. vol. iii. pp. 220, In Sanctam Jesu Christi, Dei Nostri, Resurrectionem.
494), and may probably be identified with a work This poem consists of 129 trimeter iambic verses,
noticed by Allatius (Diatrib. de Georg. apnd Fabr. in which George exhorts Flavius Constantine, the
Bibl. Gr. vol. xii. p. 120) as extant in MS. , and son of Heraclius, to emulate the example of his
described by him as Georgii Monachi Epitome father. It was probably written about A. D. 627.
Philosophiae. It appears that a Latin version of 5. Els 'Hpdxdelov odv Baoinea, De Heraclio Ima
the same work by Laurentius Valla was published peralore, commonly cited by the title 'Hpakaids,
in 8vo. at Basel," a. D. 1542; in which the original Heraclias, or 'Hpakaidoos 'Axpodels dów, Hera-
was ascribed to Nicephorus Blemmyda (Fabric. cliadis Libri Duo. It has the second title, ñro eis
Bibl. Gr. vol. xi. p. 630. )
την τέλειαν πτώσιν Χοσρόου βασιλέως Περσών,
42. PHORBENUS. (PHORBENUS. )
sire de Extremo Chosrode Persarum Regis Eacidio.
43. PARANZA, or PHRANZES. (PARANZA. ]
But this title does not correctly describe it, for it
44. Pisida (the Pisidian). The name of this takes a hasty survey of the transactions and ex-
writer occurs in the genitive case, in which it is ploits of Heraclius at home and abroad, and only
commonly found, under the various forms, Mool slightly touches on the final overthrow of Chosröes.
δου, Πισίδου, Πισιδίου, Πησίδου, Πησίδη, Πισσίδους, It was perhaps written when the intelligence of
Moldous: in Latin it is written Pisides and Pisida. that monarch's death first reached Constantinople,
He was, as his name indicates, a Pisidian by birth, about the end of A. D. 628, and before the return
and flourished in the time of the emperor Heraclius of Heraclius. 6. Εξαήμερον ήτοι Κοσμουργία,
(who reigned from A. D. 610 to 641), and of the Opus Sex Dierum seu Mundi Opificium. This poem
patriarch Sergius (who occupied the see of Con consists of 1910 trimeter iambic verses in the
stantinople from a. D. 610 to 639). In the MSS. of edition of Quercius, who restored some lines omitted
his works he is described as a deacon, and Xapto by previous editors. It has been supposed that
púrat, Chartophylax, “record keeper,” or Exevodú- this work has come down to us in a mutilated con-
hat, Sceuophylax,“ keeper of the sacred vessels,” of dition, for Suidas speaks of it as consisting of 3000
the Great Church (that of St. Sophia) at Constan- verses. But it is possible that the text of Suidas is
tinople. By Nicephorus Callisti he is termed corrupt, and that we should read eis éarn dioxinia,
" Refendarius” (“Pepevoápios), a designation not instead of aproxicam The poem bas no appear-
equivalent, as some have supposed, to Chartophy- ance of incompleteness. The Heraëmeron con-
lax, but describing a different office. We have no tains a prayer as if by the patriarch Sergius,
means of determining if he held all these offices for Heraclius and his children. The poem was
together or in succession, or if any of the titles are probably written about A. D. 629. 7. Els tov má-
incorrectly given. He appears to have accompanied Talov Biov, De Vanitate Vitae. This poem consists
the emperorHeraclius in his first expedition of 262 iambic verses, but has no internal mark of
against the Persians, and to have enjoyed the the time when it was written. 8. Kard Levýpov,
favour both of that emperor and of Sergius, but Contra Sererum, or Kard duoceboớs Lernpou 'Ava
nothing further is known of him.
Thoxelas, Contra Imperium Seterum Antiochiae,
The works of George the Pisidian are as follows: This poem consists of 731 iambic verses.
-1. Εις την κατά Περσών Εκστρατείαν Ηρακλείου Eage of Nicephorus Callisti (Hist. Ed. xviii. 48)
του βασιλέως, ακροάσεις τρείς, De Espediliome | has been understood as declaring that George
Heraclü Imperatoris contra Persas Libri tres. wrote a poem against Johannes Philoponus, and it
This work is mentioned by Suidas, and is pro- has been supposed that Philoponus is aimed at in
bably the earliest of the extant works of this this poem under the name of Severus, while others
writer. The three books are written in trimeter bave supposed that Nicephorus refers to the Hex-
iambics, and contain 1098 verses. They describe afmeron, and that Philoponus is attacked in that
the first expedition of Heraclius, whose valour and poem under the name of Proclus. But the words
piety are immoderately praised, against the Per- of Nicephorus do not require us to understand
sians, A. D. 622, when he attacked the frontier of that George wrote against Philoponus at all. This
Persia, in the neighbourhood of the Taurus. The poem against Severus contains the passage to which
descriptions of the author lead us to regard him as Nicephorus refers, and in which the Monophysite
1
A pas
## p. 254 (#270) ############################################
254
GEORGIUS.
GEORGIUS.
a
opinions which Philoponus held are attacked. 9. such fragments as had been then collected, with a
'Eynubulov eis adväylov 'Avaotáciov yaptupa Latin version by Fed. Morel, were first published
Encomium in Sanctum Anastasium Martyrem ; or, in 4to. Paris, 1584. Some copies of the edition
more fully, Blos Kal Toditela kal žoanois Toll dglou have the date 1585 in the title-page. The Hexaë-
και ενδόξου οσίου μάρτυρος Αναστασίου του μαρ- | meron was also published by Brunellus, as a work
Tupnoavtos év lépoids, Vita, Institutum, et Cer of Cyril of Alexandria, together with some poems
tamen Sancti, Gloriosi, et Venerabilis Martyris Anas- of Gregory Nazianzen and other pieces, 8vo. Rome,
tasii, qui in Perside Vartyrium passus est. This 1590. Both pieces, with the fragments, were re-
piece is in prose. 10. Eis tov ev Braxépvais vaøv, printed in the appendix to the Bibliotheca Patrum
In Templum Deiparae Constantinopoli in Blacher of La Bigne, fol. Paris, 1624, and with the version
nis situm ; a short poem in iambic verse
of Morel, and one or two additional fragments, in
These are all the extant works of George ; but the Paris edition of the Bibliotheca Patrum, fol.
that he wrote others appears from the quotations 1654, vol. xir. p. 389, &c. The Latin version of
which are found in ancient writers, and of which a Morel is in the edition of the BiWiotheca, fol.
considerable number have been collected from the Lyon. 1677, vol. xii. p. 323, &c. The De Erpe-
Chonographia of Theophanes, the Lexicon of Suidas, dicono Imperatoris Heraclii contra Persus, the
the Compendium of Cedrenus, the Historia Eccie Bellum Avaricum, the Hymnus Acathistus, the
siastica of Nicephorus Callisti, and the Commen. In Sanctam Jesu Christi D. N. Resurrectionem, the
taries of Isaacius Tzetzes. George is mentioned Heraclius, the Hesaë meron, the De l'anitate Vitae,
also by Johannes Tzetzes.
the Contra Severum, the Encomium in S. Anasta-
Some works known or asserted to be extant sium Martyrem, and a much-enlarged collection of
have been ascribed to George, but without suffi. fragments, with a valuable preface, introductions
cient reason. Usher and others have conjectured to the several pieces, a Latin version and notes
that he was the compiler of the Chronicon Paschale, by Joseph Maria Quercius of Florence, were pub-
but Quercius refutes the supposition. Possevino lished in the Corporis Historiae Byzantinae Nova
mentions a MS. work of his, De Gestis Impera- Appendix, fol. Rome, 1777. The Appendix com-
torum Constantinopolitanorum; but the supposition prehends also the works of Theodosius Diaconus
of the existence of such a work probably originated and Corippus Africanus Grammaticus by other
in a mistake. A MS. in the Imperial Library at editors. The De Expeditione contra Persas, Bel-
Vienna is described by Nesselius and Reimannus lum Avaricum, and Heraclias are edited by Bekker
as Georgii Pisidae Diaconi et Chartophylacis mag- and included in the Bonn reprint of the Byzantine
nae Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae et Cyrilli Mo writers. The little poem in Templum Deiparae,
nachi Breviarium Chronographicum ex Variis His &c. , was printed by Ducange in p. 65 of the notes
toriis concinnatum, fc. This MS. is probably the to his Zonaras, in the Paris edition of the Byzan-
same which Raderus mentions as having been read tine historians. Bandurius printed it with a Latin
by him. It is a modern Ms. , probably of the version in his Imperium Orientale, lib. vii. p. 177;
latter part of the sixteenth century ; and an exami- and Fabricius, with another Latin version, in his
nation of the title of the MS. itself shows that the Bill. Gr. vol. viii
. p. 615. (Quercius, ut sup. ;
Chronological Compendium is ascribed to Cyril Fabric. Bibl. Gr. vol. i. p. 185, vol vii. pp. 450,
alone. But to the proper title of this work is pre- 472, &c. , vol. viii. pp. 612, 615; Care, Hist. Litt.
fixed the inscription rewpylov Toù lolõou kal Kv vol. i. p. 583. )
planov; an indication, perhaps, that the writer of 45. SCHOLARIUS. (GENNADIUS OF CONSTAN-
the Codex intended to transcribe some of the TINOPLE, No. 2. )
works of George. The astronomical poem known 46. SYNCELLUS ; termed also ABBAS and Mo
as Empedoclis Sphaera, consisting of 168 iambic Nachus, lived in the latter part of the eighth and
verses, has been conjectured to be George's ; but beginning of the ninth century. He obtained his
it has been observed by Fabricius, that the writer distinguishing epithet from having been syncellus
speaks in one place like a polytheist, while all the or personal attendant of Tarasius, patriarch of
known writings of George are distinct expressions Constantinople, who died A. D. 806. Theophanes,
of Christian belief; and Quercius thinks this ob who was his friend, describes him as a man of
jection is decisive. Le Long speaks of Greek talent and learning, especially well versed in chro-
Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul by George nographical and historical subjects, which he had
of Pisidia as being extant in the Imperial Library studied very deeply. He died in " the orthodox
at Vienna, but they are not noticed in the cata- faith,” without completing his principal (and
logues of Lambecius and Reimannus; and it is pro- indeed only known) work, the completion of
bable that Le Long's statement is erroneous. which he strongly urged, as his dying request,
Some persons have improperly confounded George upon his friend Theophanes.
of Pisidia with George of Nicomedeia, who lived He is the author of a chronography, or chro
two centuries later (GEORGIUS, No. 36); and nicle, the title of which in full is as follows: 'Ek-
Cave erroneously makes George of Pisidia arch- | λογή Χρονογραφίας συνταγείσα υπό Γεωργίου
bishop of Nicomedeia, although he correctly fixes | Μοναχού Συγκέλλου γεγονότος Ταρασίου Πατριάρ-
the time in which he lived.
χου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως από 'Αδάμ μέχρι Διο-
The versification of George is correct and ele- KAqTlavoû, A select Chronicle, drawn up by George
gant, and in harmonious verses are very rare. He the Monk, Syncell us of Tarasius, Patriarch of
was much admired by the later Byzantine writers, Constantinople, from Adam to Diocletian. The
and was very commonly compared with Euripides, author states that he intended to bring his work
to whom some did not hesitate to prefer him. But down to A. D. 800; but, as already stated, he
his poems, however polished, are frequently dull, was cut off by death, and the work only comes
though in the Heraëmeron there are some passages down to the accession of Diocletian, A. D. 284.
of more elevated character.
The work is included in the various editions of
The Hexaëmeron and De Vanitate Vitae, with | the Byzantine writers.
Goarus, the Parisian editor,
## p. 255 (#271) ############################################
GEORGIUS.
255
GEORGIUS.
1.
contended that we have the work of Syncellus in secretary, according to Hody, to the two popes,
a complete form, but the contrary opinion seeme Eugenius IV. and Nicholas V. (who acceded to the
to be the better founded. Possevino, Vossius, and papal crown A. D. 1447), but according to other state-
others have identified Syncellus with Georgius ments he received the appointment from Nicholas
Hamartolus (No. 27); but Allatius has shown V. apparently about a. D. 1450. He occupied for
that this identification is erroneous. Syncellus has many years a position of unrivalled eminence at Rome,
transcribed verbatim a considerable part of the as a Greek scholar and teacher, and a translator of
Chronicon of Eusebius, so that his work has been the Greek authors; but the arrival of many scholars
employed to restore or complete the Greek text of whom Nicholas invited to that city, and the su-
the Chronicon. The Chronographia of Theophanes, perior reputation of the version of Aristotle's Pro-
which extends from A. D. 285 to A. D. 813, may be Ulemata, made by Theodore Gaza subsequently to
regarded as a continuation of that of Syncellus, George's version of the same treatise, and the
and completes the author's original design. The attacks of Laurentius Valla, threw him into the
Bonn edition of Syncelluis is edited by W. Din- shade. Valla attacked him because he had cen-
dorf, and, with the brief Chronographia of Nicepho- sured Quintilian ; and this literary dispute led to a
rus of Constantinople, occupies two volumes 8vo. , bitter personal quarrel between Valla and George ;
1829. (Theophanes, Prooemium ad Chronog. ; Ce | but after a time they were reconciled. Poggio, the
dren. Compend. sub init. ; Allatius, Ibid. p. 24 ; Florentine, had also a dispute with George, who
Fabric. Bill. Gr. vol. vii. p. 457 ; Cave, Hist. Litt. boxed bis antagonist's ears, in the presence of the
vol. i. p. 641. )
pope's other secretaries, a tolerable proof of the
47. SYRACUSANUS. Some of the hymns in the greatness of the provocation, or the irritability of
Menaea, or services for the saints' days in the George's temper. For some time George had Bes-
Greek church, are ascribed to George, who was sarion for his patron, but he lost his favour by his
bishop of Syracuse about A. D. 663, and who is said attack on the reputation of Plato, in maintaining
to have studied Greek literature at Constantinople, the rival claims of Aristotle. George ceased to
and to have become an accomplished scholar. He teach as professor in A. D. 1450, perhaps on his
wrote also Tropuria, or hymns for the feasts of the appointment as papal secretary.
Nativity and the Epiphany. (Fabric. Bibl. Gr. Beside the duties of his professorship and his
vol. X. p. 629. )
secretaryship, he was much engaged in translating
48. TRAPEZUNTIUS (TpateSotvrlos) of TRAPE- into Latin the works of Greek authors ; but, from
zus or 'TREBIZOND. The surname of George Tra- the haste with which they were brought out, arising
pezuntius is taken, not from the place of his birth, from his anxiety to receive the promised payment
for he was a native of Crete (Nic. Comnenus Pa- for them, they appeared in an imperfect or mutilated
padopoli says of Chandace (Candia ? ), the capital form.
of the island), but from the former seat of his Having lost the favour of Nicholas, who was
family. His contemporary, Cardinal Bessarion, alienated from him, as George himself states, be-
commonly designates him “ Cretensis. ” He was cause he refused to allow his versions of certain
born 4th April, A. D. 1396, and came into Italy Greek philosophers and fathers to appear under the
probably about A. D. 1428, as he was invited into names of others, and perhaps also by the intrigues of
that country by Franciscus Barbarus, a Venetian his rivals, he went to Naples, to the court of Al
noble, to teach Greek in Venice after the departure fonso the Magnanimous, who gave him a respectable
of Franciscus Philelphus who left that city in that salary ; but he was, after a time, reconciled to the
year. George received the freedom of the city from pope by the friendly offices of Franciscus Philel-
the senate. It appears from his commentary on phus, and returned to Rome about A. D. 1453.
Cicero's Oration for Q. Ligarius, that he learned In A. D. 1465 he visited his native island, and
Latin (Nic. Comnenus Papadopoli says at Padua) from thence went to Constantinople. On his return
under Victorinus of Feltre, who was also the by sea from Constantinople to Rome, he was in
teacher of Theodore Gaza. After a few years he imminent danger of shipwreck, and, in his peril,
removed from Venice, and, after several ineffectual he besought the aid of the martyr, Andreas of
attempts to establish himself as a teacher in differ-Chios, who had a few months before suffered mar-
ent towns, settled at Rome, where he was made tyrdom at Constantinople ; and he made a vow
professor of philosophy and polite literature, with a that if he escaped and came safely to his destina-
salary from the Papal government; and where his tion, he would write in Latin the narrative of his
lectures were attended by hearers from Italy, martyrdom. He fulfilled his vow about two years
France, Spain, and Germany. The year of his afterwards, and embodied in the narrative an ac-
settlement at Rome is not ascertained. The ac- count of the circumstances which led him to write
count of Boissardus, who says (Icones Viror. Ilustr. ) it.
* Primus omnium Graecorum Graecas literas docuit In his old age George's intellect failed, and he
summa cum laude utpote qui clarebat A. Chr. 1430 sunk into second childhood. His recollection was
Engenio IV. pontificatum tenente,” is not accurate, completely lost in literary matters, and he is said to
as Eugenius did not become pope till 1431. Tri-have forgotten even bis own name.
In this crazy
themius says that he flourished at Rome in the time condition be wandered about the streets of Rome
of Eugenius IV. , A. D. 1435, which may be true ; in a worn cloak and with a knotted staff. According
at any rate, he was at Rome before the council of to some accounts, this wreck of his intellect was the
Florence, A. D. 1439. He had become eminent in result of a severe illness ; others ascribe it to grief
Italy before 1437, when he wrote to the Byzantine and mortification at the trifling reward which he
emperor, Joannes or John 11. , exhorting him to received for his literary labours. A story is told
disregard the promises of the council of Basel, and of him (Boissard, 6. c. ), that having received of the
to atiend the council which was to be summoned at pope the trifling sum of 100 ducats for one of his
Ferrara, in Italy; but it is not clear from what works which he had presented to him, he threw
part of Italy the letter was written. He was the money into the Tiber, saying, “ Periere labores,
HE
## p. 256 (#272) ############################################
256
GEORGIUS.
GEORGIUS.
pereat et eorum ingrata merces” (“ My labours are bodied a translation of a considerable part of the
lost, let the thankless recompense of them perish rhetorical works of Hermogenes. 5. De Octo Par
too "); but the similarity of the story to an anec- tibus Orationis ex Prisciano Compendium, 4to. Mi-
dote of Theodore Gaza destroys, or at least much lan, 1472. The same work appears to have been
impairs its credibility. George's son, Andreas printed in 1537 in 8vo. at Augsburg, under the
Trapezuntius, in his prefatory address to Pope title of De Octo Partibus Orationis Compendium,
Sixius IV. , prefixed to George's translation of the omitting ex Prisciano; though some of our autho-
Almagest of Ptolemy, declares that his life was rities hesitate about identifying the two works.
shortened by the malignity of “his powerful 6. De Artificio Ciceronianae Orationis pro Q. Li-
enemy ;
" but who this enemy was Andreas does gario (sometimes described as Expositio in Ora-
not mention. It could hardly have been Theodore tionem Ciceronis pro Q. Ligario); printed with the
Gaza, the rival of George, for he died A. D. 1478, commentaries of some other writers on some of the
while George himself did not die until A. D. 1485 orations of Cicero, fol. Venice, 1477, and several
or 1486, at the age of about 90. He was buried times reprinted. 7. Commentarius in Philippica
near his residence, in the Church of the Virgin Ciceronis, 4to. Venice. The year of publication is
Mary, formerly the Temple of Minerva at Rome, not known. These two works have been reprinted
where was a monumental inscription in the floor of in some collections of commentaries on Cicero's ora-
the church ; but it had been so worn by the feet oftions. 8. Dialectica, 4to. Strasburg, 1509. Twelve
the persons frequenting the church, that even in editions of this little work were published between
Allatius's time nothing was visible but the traces 1509 and 1536. The work entitled Compendium
of the name.
Dialectices et Aristotele, by George of Trebizond,
George of Trebizond left a son, Andreas or An- published without note of time or place, is pro-
drew, who, during his father's lifetime, wrote in bably the same work. 9. Comparationes Philoso-
his defence against Theodore Gaza ; but he was a phorum Plutonis et Aristotelis, 8vo. Venice, 1523.
person of no talent or eminence. A daughter of We are not aware that the work was printed be-
Andrew was married to the Roman poet Faustus fore this date, but it must have been circulated in
Magdalena, who was killed at the sacking of Rome some form, as it was the work which drew upon
by the troops of Charles V. , A. D. 1527. Faustus, George the anger of Cardinal Bessarion, who pub-
who was a friend of Leo X. , used to speak much lished a reply to it under the title Adversus Calum-
of his wife's grandfather.
niatorem Platonis, Libri Quinque, fol. Rome, 1469.
The character of George is unfavourably repre- In this reply he criticises George's translation of
sented by his biographers Allatius and Boerner, the Plato's treatise De Legibus, which has never been
latter of whom describes him as deceitful, vain, and printed. 10. De Antisciis in quorum Rationem
envious. The disputes in which he was involved Fata sua rejicit
. ll. Cur Astrologorum Judicia
with the principal scholars with whom he had any plerumque fulluntur. These two works were printed
thing to do confirm these unfavourable representa with Omar De Nativitatibus, 8vo. Venice, 1525. 12.
tions.
Erpositio in illud “Si eum rolo manere donec
The works of George of Trebizond are nume- veniam," 8vo. Basil. 1543 ; and reprinted in both
rous, consisting partly of original works, a few in editions of the Orthodoxographa (Basil. 1535 and
Greek, the rest in Latin ; partly of translations 1569) and in the Bibliotheca Patrum, vol. vi. ed.
from Greek into Latin, many of them, however, Paris, 1576. In this exposition of a passage (c.
remain in MS. We notice only those that have xxi. 22) in the Gospel of John, George contended
been printed ; arranging them in classes, and giving that the evangelist was still living on the earth.
the works in each class chronologically, according 13. In Claudii Ptolemaei Centum Sententias (or
to the date of their earliest known publication. Centiloquium) Commentarius, with a reprint of Nos.
I. ORIGINAL WORKS. L. IN GREEK. 1. Npds 10 and 1l, and with the treatise of Joannes Pon-
τον υψηλότατον και θειώτατον Βασιλέα Ρωμαίων | tanus, Quatenus credendum sit Astrologis, 8νο. Co-
'Iwdvvny tov Halalobyov, Epistola ad excelsissi- logne, 1544. 14. Acta Beati Andreue Chi; printed
mum sacratissimumque Regem Romanorum Joannem in the De Probatis Sanctorum litis of Surius, Maii,
Palaeologum. Subjoined by Pontanus, together 29. p. 324, fol. Cologne, 1618, and in the Acta
with a Latin version, to his Latin versions of Theo- Sanctorum of Bollandus, Maii, tom. vii. p. 184, &c.
phylact Simocatta and Phranza, 4to. Ingolstadt, 11. TRANSLATIONS. 15. Eusebius Pamphili de
1604. 2. Προς Ιωάννην τον Κουβοκλήσιον περί | Praeparatione Evangelica o Georgio Trapezantio
Tſis ektopeÚCews Toll ‘Ayiov Iveúuatos, Ad Joan- traductus, fol. Venice, 1470.
Aneponymus (i. e. without a sumame); the other by his editor Quercius on internal evidence, which
as Compendium Philosophiae, Gr. Lat. , by Georgius cannot, however, be regarded as conclusive. 4. Els
Aneponymus. The two are probably one and the την αγίαν του Χριστού του Θεού ημών ανάστασιν,
same work (comp. Fabr. Bibl. Gr. vol. iii. pp. 220, In Sanctam Jesu Christi, Dei Nostri, Resurrectionem.
494), and may probably be identified with a work This poem consists of 129 trimeter iambic verses,
noticed by Allatius (Diatrib. de Georg. apnd Fabr. in which George exhorts Flavius Constantine, the
Bibl. Gr. vol. xii. p. 120) as extant in MS. , and son of Heraclius, to emulate the example of his
described by him as Georgii Monachi Epitome father. It was probably written about A. D. 627.
Philosophiae. It appears that a Latin version of 5. Els 'Hpdxdelov odv Baoinea, De Heraclio Ima
the same work by Laurentius Valla was published peralore, commonly cited by the title 'Hpakaids,
in 8vo. at Basel," a. D. 1542; in which the original Heraclias, or 'Hpakaidoos 'Axpodels dów, Hera-
was ascribed to Nicephorus Blemmyda (Fabric. cliadis Libri Duo. It has the second title, ñro eis
Bibl. Gr. vol. xi. p. 630. )
την τέλειαν πτώσιν Χοσρόου βασιλέως Περσών,
42. PHORBENUS. (PHORBENUS. )
sire de Extremo Chosrode Persarum Regis Eacidio.
43. PARANZA, or PHRANZES. (PARANZA. ]
But this title does not correctly describe it, for it
44. Pisida (the Pisidian). The name of this takes a hasty survey of the transactions and ex-
writer occurs in the genitive case, in which it is ploits of Heraclius at home and abroad, and only
commonly found, under the various forms, Mool slightly touches on the final overthrow of Chosröes.
δου, Πισίδου, Πισιδίου, Πησίδου, Πησίδη, Πισσίδους, It was perhaps written when the intelligence of
Moldous: in Latin it is written Pisides and Pisida. that monarch's death first reached Constantinople,
He was, as his name indicates, a Pisidian by birth, about the end of A. D. 628, and before the return
and flourished in the time of the emperor Heraclius of Heraclius. 6. Εξαήμερον ήτοι Κοσμουργία,
(who reigned from A. D. 610 to 641), and of the Opus Sex Dierum seu Mundi Opificium. This poem
patriarch Sergius (who occupied the see of Con consists of 1910 trimeter iambic verses in the
stantinople from a. D. 610 to 639). In the MSS. of edition of Quercius, who restored some lines omitted
his works he is described as a deacon, and Xapto by previous editors. It has been supposed that
púrat, Chartophylax, “record keeper,” or Exevodú- this work has come down to us in a mutilated con-
hat, Sceuophylax,“ keeper of the sacred vessels,” of dition, for Suidas speaks of it as consisting of 3000
the Great Church (that of St. Sophia) at Constan- verses. But it is possible that the text of Suidas is
tinople. By Nicephorus Callisti he is termed corrupt, and that we should read eis éarn dioxinia,
" Refendarius” (“Pepevoápios), a designation not instead of aproxicam The poem bas no appear-
equivalent, as some have supposed, to Chartophy- ance of incompleteness. The Heraëmeron con-
lax, but describing a different office. We have no tains a prayer as if by the patriarch Sergius,
means of determining if he held all these offices for Heraclius and his children. The poem was
together or in succession, or if any of the titles are probably written about A. D. 629. 7. Els tov má-
incorrectly given. He appears to have accompanied Talov Biov, De Vanitate Vitae. This poem consists
the emperorHeraclius in his first expedition of 262 iambic verses, but has no internal mark of
against the Persians, and to have enjoyed the the time when it was written. 8. Kard Levýpov,
favour both of that emperor and of Sergius, but Contra Sererum, or Kard duoceboớs Lernpou 'Ava
nothing further is known of him.
Thoxelas, Contra Imperium Seterum Antiochiae,
The works of George the Pisidian are as follows: This poem consists of 731 iambic verses.
-1. Εις την κατά Περσών Εκστρατείαν Ηρακλείου Eage of Nicephorus Callisti (Hist. Ed. xviii. 48)
του βασιλέως, ακροάσεις τρείς, De Espediliome | has been understood as declaring that George
Heraclü Imperatoris contra Persas Libri tres. wrote a poem against Johannes Philoponus, and it
This work is mentioned by Suidas, and is pro- has been supposed that Philoponus is aimed at in
bably the earliest of the extant works of this this poem under the name of Severus, while others
writer. The three books are written in trimeter bave supposed that Nicephorus refers to the Hex-
iambics, and contain 1098 verses. They describe afmeron, and that Philoponus is attacked in that
the first expedition of Heraclius, whose valour and poem under the name of Proclus. But the words
piety are immoderately praised, against the Per- of Nicephorus do not require us to understand
sians, A. D. 622, when he attacked the frontier of that George wrote against Philoponus at all. This
Persia, in the neighbourhood of the Taurus. The poem against Severus contains the passage to which
descriptions of the author lead us to regard him as Nicephorus refers, and in which the Monophysite
1
A pas
## p. 254 (#270) ############################################
254
GEORGIUS.
GEORGIUS.
a
opinions which Philoponus held are attacked. 9. such fragments as had been then collected, with a
'Eynubulov eis adväylov 'Avaotáciov yaptupa Latin version by Fed. Morel, were first published
Encomium in Sanctum Anastasium Martyrem ; or, in 4to. Paris, 1584. Some copies of the edition
more fully, Blos Kal Toditela kal žoanois Toll dglou have the date 1585 in the title-page. The Hexaë-
και ενδόξου οσίου μάρτυρος Αναστασίου του μαρ- | meron was also published by Brunellus, as a work
Tupnoavtos év lépoids, Vita, Institutum, et Cer of Cyril of Alexandria, together with some poems
tamen Sancti, Gloriosi, et Venerabilis Martyris Anas- of Gregory Nazianzen and other pieces, 8vo. Rome,
tasii, qui in Perside Vartyrium passus est. This 1590. Both pieces, with the fragments, were re-
piece is in prose. 10. Eis tov ev Braxépvais vaøv, printed in the appendix to the Bibliotheca Patrum
In Templum Deiparae Constantinopoli in Blacher of La Bigne, fol. Paris, 1624, and with the version
nis situm ; a short poem in iambic verse
of Morel, and one or two additional fragments, in
These are all the extant works of George ; but the Paris edition of the Bibliotheca Patrum, fol.
that he wrote others appears from the quotations 1654, vol. xir. p. 389, &c. The Latin version of
which are found in ancient writers, and of which a Morel is in the edition of the BiWiotheca, fol.
considerable number have been collected from the Lyon. 1677, vol. xii. p. 323, &c. The De Erpe-
Chonographia of Theophanes, the Lexicon of Suidas, dicono Imperatoris Heraclii contra Persus, the
the Compendium of Cedrenus, the Historia Eccie Bellum Avaricum, the Hymnus Acathistus, the
siastica of Nicephorus Callisti, and the Commen. In Sanctam Jesu Christi D. N. Resurrectionem, the
taries of Isaacius Tzetzes. George is mentioned Heraclius, the Hesaë meron, the De l'anitate Vitae,
also by Johannes Tzetzes.
the Contra Severum, the Encomium in S. Anasta-
Some works known or asserted to be extant sium Martyrem, and a much-enlarged collection of
have been ascribed to George, but without suffi. fragments, with a valuable preface, introductions
cient reason. Usher and others have conjectured to the several pieces, a Latin version and notes
that he was the compiler of the Chronicon Paschale, by Joseph Maria Quercius of Florence, were pub-
but Quercius refutes the supposition. Possevino lished in the Corporis Historiae Byzantinae Nova
mentions a MS. work of his, De Gestis Impera- Appendix, fol. Rome, 1777. The Appendix com-
torum Constantinopolitanorum; but the supposition prehends also the works of Theodosius Diaconus
of the existence of such a work probably originated and Corippus Africanus Grammaticus by other
in a mistake. A MS. in the Imperial Library at editors. The De Expeditione contra Persas, Bel-
Vienna is described by Nesselius and Reimannus lum Avaricum, and Heraclias are edited by Bekker
as Georgii Pisidae Diaconi et Chartophylacis mag- and included in the Bonn reprint of the Byzantine
nae Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae et Cyrilli Mo writers. The little poem in Templum Deiparae,
nachi Breviarium Chronographicum ex Variis His &c. , was printed by Ducange in p. 65 of the notes
toriis concinnatum, fc. This MS. is probably the to his Zonaras, in the Paris edition of the Byzan-
same which Raderus mentions as having been read tine historians. Bandurius printed it with a Latin
by him. It is a modern Ms. , probably of the version in his Imperium Orientale, lib. vii. p. 177;
latter part of the sixteenth century ; and an exami- and Fabricius, with another Latin version, in his
nation of the title of the MS. itself shows that the Bill. Gr. vol. viii
. p. 615. (Quercius, ut sup. ;
Chronological Compendium is ascribed to Cyril Fabric. Bibl. Gr. vol. i. p. 185, vol vii. pp. 450,
alone. But to the proper title of this work is pre- 472, &c. , vol. viii. pp. 612, 615; Care, Hist. Litt.
fixed the inscription rewpylov Toù lolõou kal Kv vol. i. p. 583. )
planov; an indication, perhaps, that the writer of 45. SCHOLARIUS. (GENNADIUS OF CONSTAN-
the Codex intended to transcribe some of the TINOPLE, No. 2. )
works of George. The astronomical poem known 46. SYNCELLUS ; termed also ABBAS and Mo
as Empedoclis Sphaera, consisting of 168 iambic Nachus, lived in the latter part of the eighth and
verses, has been conjectured to be George's ; but beginning of the ninth century. He obtained his
it has been observed by Fabricius, that the writer distinguishing epithet from having been syncellus
speaks in one place like a polytheist, while all the or personal attendant of Tarasius, patriarch of
known writings of George are distinct expressions Constantinople, who died A. D. 806. Theophanes,
of Christian belief; and Quercius thinks this ob who was his friend, describes him as a man of
jection is decisive. Le Long speaks of Greek talent and learning, especially well versed in chro-
Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul by George nographical and historical subjects, which he had
of Pisidia as being extant in the Imperial Library studied very deeply. He died in " the orthodox
at Vienna, but they are not noticed in the cata- faith,” without completing his principal (and
logues of Lambecius and Reimannus; and it is pro- indeed only known) work, the completion of
bable that Le Long's statement is erroneous. which he strongly urged, as his dying request,
Some persons have improperly confounded George upon his friend Theophanes.
of Pisidia with George of Nicomedeia, who lived He is the author of a chronography, or chro
two centuries later (GEORGIUS, No. 36); and nicle, the title of which in full is as follows: 'Ek-
Cave erroneously makes George of Pisidia arch- | λογή Χρονογραφίας συνταγείσα υπό Γεωργίου
bishop of Nicomedeia, although he correctly fixes | Μοναχού Συγκέλλου γεγονότος Ταρασίου Πατριάρ-
the time in which he lived.
χου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως από 'Αδάμ μέχρι Διο-
The versification of George is correct and ele- KAqTlavoû, A select Chronicle, drawn up by George
gant, and in harmonious verses are very rare. He the Monk, Syncell us of Tarasius, Patriarch of
was much admired by the later Byzantine writers, Constantinople, from Adam to Diocletian. The
and was very commonly compared with Euripides, author states that he intended to bring his work
to whom some did not hesitate to prefer him. But down to A. D. 800; but, as already stated, he
his poems, however polished, are frequently dull, was cut off by death, and the work only comes
though in the Heraëmeron there are some passages down to the accession of Diocletian, A. D. 284.
of more elevated character.
The work is included in the various editions of
The Hexaëmeron and De Vanitate Vitae, with | the Byzantine writers.
Goarus, the Parisian editor,
## p. 255 (#271) ############################################
GEORGIUS.
255
GEORGIUS.
1.
contended that we have the work of Syncellus in secretary, according to Hody, to the two popes,
a complete form, but the contrary opinion seeme Eugenius IV. and Nicholas V. (who acceded to the
to be the better founded. Possevino, Vossius, and papal crown A. D. 1447), but according to other state-
others have identified Syncellus with Georgius ments he received the appointment from Nicholas
Hamartolus (No. 27); but Allatius has shown V. apparently about a. D. 1450. He occupied for
that this identification is erroneous. Syncellus has many years a position of unrivalled eminence at Rome,
transcribed verbatim a considerable part of the as a Greek scholar and teacher, and a translator of
Chronicon of Eusebius, so that his work has been the Greek authors; but the arrival of many scholars
employed to restore or complete the Greek text of whom Nicholas invited to that city, and the su-
the Chronicon. The Chronographia of Theophanes, perior reputation of the version of Aristotle's Pro-
which extends from A. D. 285 to A. D. 813, may be Ulemata, made by Theodore Gaza subsequently to
regarded as a continuation of that of Syncellus, George's version of the same treatise, and the
and completes the author's original design. The attacks of Laurentius Valla, threw him into the
Bonn edition of Syncelluis is edited by W. Din- shade. Valla attacked him because he had cen-
dorf, and, with the brief Chronographia of Nicepho- sured Quintilian ; and this literary dispute led to a
rus of Constantinople, occupies two volumes 8vo. , bitter personal quarrel between Valla and George ;
1829. (Theophanes, Prooemium ad Chronog. ; Ce | but after a time they were reconciled. Poggio, the
dren. Compend. sub init. ; Allatius, Ibid. p. 24 ; Florentine, had also a dispute with George, who
Fabric. Bill. Gr. vol. vii. p. 457 ; Cave, Hist. Litt. boxed bis antagonist's ears, in the presence of the
vol. i. p. 641. )
pope's other secretaries, a tolerable proof of the
47. SYRACUSANUS. Some of the hymns in the greatness of the provocation, or the irritability of
Menaea, or services for the saints' days in the George's temper. For some time George had Bes-
Greek church, are ascribed to George, who was sarion for his patron, but he lost his favour by his
bishop of Syracuse about A. D. 663, and who is said attack on the reputation of Plato, in maintaining
to have studied Greek literature at Constantinople, the rival claims of Aristotle. George ceased to
and to have become an accomplished scholar. He teach as professor in A. D. 1450, perhaps on his
wrote also Tropuria, or hymns for the feasts of the appointment as papal secretary.
Nativity and the Epiphany. (Fabric. Bibl. Gr. Beside the duties of his professorship and his
vol. X. p. 629. )
secretaryship, he was much engaged in translating
48. TRAPEZUNTIUS (TpateSotvrlos) of TRAPE- into Latin the works of Greek authors ; but, from
zus or 'TREBIZOND. The surname of George Tra- the haste with which they were brought out, arising
pezuntius is taken, not from the place of his birth, from his anxiety to receive the promised payment
for he was a native of Crete (Nic. Comnenus Pa- for them, they appeared in an imperfect or mutilated
padopoli says of Chandace (Candia ? ), the capital form.
of the island), but from the former seat of his Having lost the favour of Nicholas, who was
family. His contemporary, Cardinal Bessarion, alienated from him, as George himself states, be-
commonly designates him “ Cretensis. ” He was cause he refused to allow his versions of certain
born 4th April, A. D. 1396, and came into Italy Greek philosophers and fathers to appear under the
probably about A. D. 1428, as he was invited into names of others, and perhaps also by the intrigues of
that country by Franciscus Barbarus, a Venetian his rivals, he went to Naples, to the court of Al
noble, to teach Greek in Venice after the departure fonso the Magnanimous, who gave him a respectable
of Franciscus Philelphus who left that city in that salary ; but he was, after a time, reconciled to the
year. George received the freedom of the city from pope by the friendly offices of Franciscus Philel-
the senate. It appears from his commentary on phus, and returned to Rome about A. D. 1453.
Cicero's Oration for Q. Ligarius, that he learned In A. D. 1465 he visited his native island, and
Latin (Nic. Comnenus Papadopoli says at Padua) from thence went to Constantinople. On his return
under Victorinus of Feltre, who was also the by sea from Constantinople to Rome, he was in
teacher of Theodore Gaza. After a few years he imminent danger of shipwreck, and, in his peril,
removed from Venice, and, after several ineffectual he besought the aid of the martyr, Andreas of
attempts to establish himself as a teacher in differ-Chios, who had a few months before suffered mar-
ent towns, settled at Rome, where he was made tyrdom at Constantinople ; and he made a vow
professor of philosophy and polite literature, with a that if he escaped and came safely to his destina-
salary from the Papal government; and where his tion, he would write in Latin the narrative of his
lectures were attended by hearers from Italy, martyrdom. He fulfilled his vow about two years
France, Spain, and Germany. The year of his afterwards, and embodied in the narrative an ac-
settlement at Rome is not ascertained. The ac- count of the circumstances which led him to write
count of Boissardus, who says (Icones Viror. Ilustr. ) it.
* Primus omnium Graecorum Graecas literas docuit In his old age George's intellect failed, and he
summa cum laude utpote qui clarebat A. Chr. 1430 sunk into second childhood. His recollection was
Engenio IV. pontificatum tenente,” is not accurate, completely lost in literary matters, and he is said to
as Eugenius did not become pope till 1431. Tri-have forgotten even bis own name.
In this crazy
themius says that he flourished at Rome in the time condition be wandered about the streets of Rome
of Eugenius IV. , A. D. 1435, which may be true ; in a worn cloak and with a knotted staff. According
at any rate, he was at Rome before the council of to some accounts, this wreck of his intellect was the
Florence, A. D. 1439. He had become eminent in result of a severe illness ; others ascribe it to grief
Italy before 1437, when he wrote to the Byzantine and mortification at the trifling reward which he
emperor, Joannes or John 11. , exhorting him to received for his literary labours. A story is told
disregard the promises of the council of Basel, and of him (Boissard, 6. c. ), that having received of the
to atiend the council which was to be summoned at pope the trifling sum of 100 ducats for one of his
Ferrara, in Italy; but it is not clear from what works which he had presented to him, he threw
part of Italy the letter was written. He was the money into the Tiber, saying, “ Periere labores,
HE
## p. 256 (#272) ############################################
256
GEORGIUS.
GEORGIUS.
pereat et eorum ingrata merces” (“ My labours are bodied a translation of a considerable part of the
lost, let the thankless recompense of them perish rhetorical works of Hermogenes. 5. De Octo Par
too "); but the similarity of the story to an anec- tibus Orationis ex Prisciano Compendium, 4to. Mi-
dote of Theodore Gaza destroys, or at least much lan, 1472. The same work appears to have been
impairs its credibility. George's son, Andreas printed in 1537 in 8vo. at Augsburg, under the
Trapezuntius, in his prefatory address to Pope title of De Octo Partibus Orationis Compendium,
Sixius IV. , prefixed to George's translation of the omitting ex Prisciano; though some of our autho-
Almagest of Ptolemy, declares that his life was rities hesitate about identifying the two works.
shortened by the malignity of “his powerful 6. De Artificio Ciceronianae Orationis pro Q. Li-
enemy ;
" but who this enemy was Andreas does gario (sometimes described as Expositio in Ora-
not mention. It could hardly have been Theodore tionem Ciceronis pro Q. Ligario); printed with the
Gaza, the rival of George, for he died A. D. 1478, commentaries of some other writers on some of the
while George himself did not die until A. D. 1485 orations of Cicero, fol. Venice, 1477, and several
or 1486, at the age of about 90. He was buried times reprinted. 7. Commentarius in Philippica
near his residence, in the Church of the Virgin Ciceronis, 4to. Venice. The year of publication is
Mary, formerly the Temple of Minerva at Rome, not known. These two works have been reprinted
where was a monumental inscription in the floor of in some collections of commentaries on Cicero's ora-
the church ; but it had been so worn by the feet oftions. 8. Dialectica, 4to. Strasburg, 1509. Twelve
the persons frequenting the church, that even in editions of this little work were published between
Allatius's time nothing was visible but the traces 1509 and 1536. The work entitled Compendium
of the name.
Dialectices et Aristotele, by George of Trebizond,
George of Trebizond left a son, Andreas or An- published without note of time or place, is pro-
drew, who, during his father's lifetime, wrote in bably the same work. 9. Comparationes Philoso-
his defence against Theodore Gaza ; but he was a phorum Plutonis et Aristotelis, 8vo. Venice, 1523.
person of no talent or eminence. A daughter of We are not aware that the work was printed be-
Andrew was married to the Roman poet Faustus fore this date, but it must have been circulated in
Magdalena, who was killed at the sacking of Rome some form, as it was the work which drew upon
by the troops of Charles V. , A. D. 1527. Faustus, George the anger of Cardinal Bessarion, who pub-
who was a friend of Leo X. , used to speak much lished a reply to it under the title Adversus Calum-
of his wife's grandfather.
niatorem Platonis, Libri Quinque, fol. Rome, 1469.
The character of George is unfavourably repre- In this reply he criticises George's translation of
sented by his biographers Allatius and Boerner, the Plato's treatise De Legibus, which has never been
latter of whom describes him as deceitful, vain, and printed. 10. De Antisciis in quorum Rationem
envious. The disputes in which he was involved Fata sua rejicit
. ll. Cur Astrologorum Judicia
with the principal scholars with whom he had any plerumque fulluntur. These two works were printed
thing to do confirm these unfavourable representa with Omar De Nativitatibus, 8vo. Venice, 1525. 12.
tions.
Erpositio in illud “Si eum rolo manere donec
The works of George of Trebizond are nume- veniam," 8vo. Basil. 1543 ; and reprinted in both
rous, consisting partly of original works, a few in editions of the Orthodoxographa (Basil. 1535 and
Greek, the rest in Latin ; partly of translations 1569) and in the Bibliotheca Patrum, vol. vi. ed.
from Greek into Latin, many of them, however, Paris, 1576. In this exposition of a passage (c.
remain in MS. We notice only those that have xxi. 22) in the Gospel of John, George contended
been printed ; arranging them in classes, and giving that the evangelist was still living on the earth.
the works in each class chronologically, according 13. In Claudii Ptolemaei Centum Sententias (or
to the date of their earliest known publication. Centiloquium) Commentarius, with a reprint of Nos.
I. ORIGINAL WORKS. L. IN GREEK. 1. Npds 10 and 1l, and with the treatise of Joannes Pon-
τον υψηλότατον και θειώτατον Βασιλέα Ρωμαίων | tanus, Quatenus credendum sit Astrologis, 8νο. Co-
'Iwdvvny tov Halalobyov, Epistola ad excelsissi- logne, 1544. 14. Acta Beati Andreue Chi; printed
mum sacratissimumque Regem Romanorum Joannem in the De Probatis Sanctorum litis of Surius, Maii,
Palaeologum. Subjoined by Pontanus, together 29. p. 324, fol. Cologne, 1618, and in the Acta
with a Latin version, to his Latin versions of Theo- Sanctorum of Bollandus, Maii, tom. vii. p. 184, &c.
phylact Simocatta and Phranza, 4to. Ingolstadt, 11. TRANSLATIONS. 15. Eusebius Pamphili de
1604. 2. Προς Ιωάννην τον Κουβοκλήσιον περί | Praeparatione Evangelica o Georgio Trapezantio
Tſis ektopeÚCews Toll ‘Ayiov Iveúuatos, Ad Joan- traductus, fol. Venice, 1470.
