Ε ΕΙΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΠΤΩΚΟΥΣ ΕΠΙΚΟΥΡΙΑ. Rapporto tra legislazione imperiale e decreti municipali (Libanio, Or. XLVI, 21)

Abstract

The work takes its starting point from Libanius, Or. 46, 21, in which the existence of a contribution paid by shopkeepers and intended for the sustenance of the poor is attested in 4th century AD Antioch. In the light of the comparative textual analysis of Julian's letter to Arsace and Libanius' speeches 2 and 46, it is hypothesised that the emperor had urged the Antiochians to request some measure that could take away the privilege of almsgiving from the Church. To the request, formally made to him by the Antiochians, he would have responded with that rescript whose content would be entrusted only to these few Libanian lines.