Déchiffrement historique de l’écriture libanienne. À propos de Libanios, Discours 48 et 49

Abstract

The main theme, the direct relationship with the career of Libanius and the rhetorical common framework, unite at historical level the speeches 48 and 49. The evidence of these two speeches is of primary importance to know the institutional, legal, economic, and social situation in the second half of the 4th century A.D. Indeed, they document a series of transformations, or the appearance of new phenomena: the strong diversification of the curial class, and a broadening gap between the prôtoi and the mere bouleutai; the desertion of the boulai ; the rise in Antioch of new study subjects such as Latin and law. A twofold ideal can be inferred from these two Libanius’ speeches: on the one hand the attachment to the τáxis as regards the political framework of the city, and on the other side the devotion to literary culture imparted in the rhetorical schools. Such an ideal relies upon the conviction that the fortunes of the city are tied to the fortunes of the School.