Antiochia e i suoi buleuti. I discorsi 48 e 49 di Libanio e le dinamiche del rapporto tra potere locale e potere centrale.

Abstract

This monography is devoted to the analysis of the interaction between local and central power in the 4th century AD, examined both in general and in its regional dimension, from an Eastern perspective and from a 'privileged' city such as Antioch of Syria, diocesan and provincial capital, and often imperial residence, as well as hometown of the rhetorician and his official sophist Libanius, whose precious testimony is preserved in letters and orations. The translation and internal textual analysis of orations 48 and 49, never devoid of comparative analysis with contemporary legislation, suggests to assume a real dialogue between the city and the empire, and to look at the transformations taking place in the city government in terms not of crisis, but of change and evolution, correlating them with changes in political, social and cultural contexts. Particular attention is also paid in the book to sociological adjustments of the local ruling elites, as well as to the appearance of new areas of training, which emerged as competive in comparison with the traditional παιδεία and as a viaticum towards new types of careers, unrelated to polyadic dimension.