Sotiria A. Triantari

Aristotle was the first ancient philosopher to draft a manual of rhetoric containing the definition of rhetoric, its relation with dialectic, the norms of rhetoric, rhetorical techniques, the presentation of the orator’s personality, the psychological and logical persuasion required of an orator, as well as his communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal. The content of Aristotle’s rhetoric, despite the harsh criticism of Byzantine philo-Platonist Theodore Metochites, constituted a source of inspiration for the Byzantines, who wrote few commentaries on Aristotle’s rhetoric, but adopted many elements from his manual in order to express their socio-political ideology through the perception of the aesthetically verbally beautiful. Particularly significant is the fact that the Byzantines inherited from Aristotle the first communication model that was based on the threefold use of language: the theoretical, the practical and the productive or artistic. Frequently, Aristotle’s theory about language in relation to that of Isocrates is found in Byzantine manuals of rhetoric. Aristotle’s rhetoric had a significant impact on the Byzantine perception of the aestheticality and practicality that must imbue the orator’s speech in order that the communicative interaction with his audience be improved. In this way, communication in its modern form was polished by the Byzantine’s contemplation on aesthetically beautiful speech in style and verbal forms.

Introduction

Rhetoric rapidly occupied a significant position in Byzantine literature and in the life of the Byzantines, because the Byzantines used rhetoric to externalise their spiritual world and manifest their aesthetic perceptions of art.¹

Some Byzantine scholars drew up manuals of rhetoric based mainly on Hermogenes’ rhetoric, as well as that of Aristotle. Many commentaries were written on Hermogenes’ rhetoric, which was the most basic source for the Byzantines. From the fourth to fifth century, interest in Hermogenes’ rhetoric was strengthened by commentaries written by neo-Platonists, such as Syrianos. The representatives of the Alexandrian School displayed particular interest in Aristotle’s rhetoric.²