Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late AntiquityWhat did it mean to be a professional teacher in the prestigious "liberal schools"--the schools of grammar and rhetoric--in late antiquity? How can we account for the abiding prestige of these schools, which remained substantially unchanged in their methods and standing despite the political and religious changes that had taken place around them? The grammarian was a pivotal figure in the lives of the educated upper classes of late antiquity. Introducing his students to correct language and to the literature esteemed by long tradition, he began the education that confirmed his students' standing in a narrowly defined elite. His profession thus contributed to the social as well as cultural continuity of the Empire. The grammarian received honor--and criticism; the profession gave the grammarian a firm sense of cultural authority but also placed him in a position of genteel subordination within the elite. Robert A. Kaster provides the first thorough study of the place and function of these important but ambiguous figures. He also gives a detailed prosopography of the grammarians, and of the other "teachers of letters" below the level of rhetoric, from the middle of the third through the middle of the sixth century, which will provide a valuable research tool for other students of late-antique education. |
Contents
Anazarbus | 3 |
The Guardian and His Burden | 15 |
Professio Litterarum | 32 |
The Social Status of the Grammarians | 99 |
Pompeius | 139 |
Servius | 169 |
The Social Relations of the Grammarians | 201 |
Grammatici Γραμματοδιδάσκαλοι Magistri Ludi and the Like | 237 |
Dubii Falsi Varii | 380 |
Titles Styles Circumlocutions A Selection | 443 |
Γραμματικός as Epithet and Personal Name | 453 |
GeographicalChronological List of Teachers | 463 |
| 479 | |
| 511 | |
Other editions - View all
Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity Robert A. Kaster Limited preview - 2023 |
Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity Robert A. Kaster No preview available - 1988 |
Common terms and phrases
Aelius Donatus Alan Cameron Alexandria Anazarbus Anecd Anonymus Anth Antioch Augustine Auson Ausonius Ausonius's bishop Bordeaux career catalogue of gramm century Chap Charisius Christian cited Cominianus Comm commentary Conf Constantinople Damasc Diphilus Donatus Donatus's Egypt Epist Eudaemon Eutyches evidence example Gaza gram gramm grammar grammarian grammaticus Greek Harpocration Horapollon ibid imperial inscr Inst Ioannes Isid Kaster Latin letters Libanius Libanius's literary culture Macrobius magister Nepotianus Nicocles perhaps PLRE I s.v. poet Pomp Pompeius Pompeius's praef Priscian probably Probus Prof profession pupil reference rhetoric rhetorician Rhetorius Rome s.III s.IV s.IV ex s.IV init s.VI init s.vv salary Sch.-Hos Seeck Servius Servius's social status subscr Suda suggest taught teacher teaching tradition Vergil γραμματικός γραμματιστής δὲ διδάσκαλος ἐν καὶ Περὶ τὰ τὴν τῆς τὸ τὸν τοῦ τοὺς τῶν