The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · Character
Libanius
Also known as Libanius of Antioch, Libanius the Sophist, the orator Libanius
- Supporting
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 63
An aged orator whose presence carries the weight of classical learning and the independence of one who has witnessed the transformation of an empire. His bearing suggests both the eloquence of his profession and the quiet dignity of his pagan convictions.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- Adult (lived AD 314-394)
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 63
- Books
- 1
Libanius of Antioch was a celebrated pagan rhetorician and sophist who lived from AD 314-394. His orations praised Porphyry and Julian for their arguments against Christianity, while his discourse on the death of Julian preserved crucial passages for posterity. He provided detailed accounts of Julian's private life, diet, and study of Homer, serving as both contemporary witness and friend to the emperor. His rhetorical eloquence and classical learning made him an invaluable source for understanding the religious and cultural tensions of his age.
Description
An elderly Greek sophist from Antioch with aged features and a scholarly demeanor. His white hair and beard frame a face marked by years of rhetorical teaching and classical study. He wears the traditional robes of a Greek rhetorician, carrying himself with the bearing of one accustomed to public speaking and scholarly discourse. His eyes reflect both the depth of his learning and the independence of his pagan perspective.
Story so far
BOOK 1The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire / Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes)
Appearances
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