Theodo'rus PRODROMUS
64. PRODROMUS (2), or, as he is sometimes called in the MSS., Theodorus Ptochoprodromus, a monk who lived in the first half of the twelfth century. On entering upon the monastic life he received the name of Hilarion.
He was held in great repute by his contemporaries as a scholar and philosopher, and received the appellation of
Κυρός (equivalent to
κύριος in the Greek of the Middle Ages).
Works
He wrote upon a variety of subjects, -- philosophy, grammar, theology, history, and astronomy, and in particular was a somewhat prolific poet. Several of his compositions have come down to us, and some have been published.
The following are extant :
1.
A metrical romance in nine books, on the loves of Rhodanthe and Dosicles.
It is written in iambic metre, and exhibits no great ability.
The reader would look in vain for any thing like a natural progress in the action, or unity in the characters. Not only are we introduced at once
in medias res, but instead of narrating on suitable opportunities what had preceded, Dosicles is made to tell what had gone before, beginning at the end, and interweaving the preceding parts of the narrative into his story.
Edition
There is only one edition of this poem, by Gilb. Gaulmin. (Paris, 1625.)
Imitated
Poor as the poem is, however, it found an imitator.
There is extant an iambic poem, also in nine books, on the loves of Drosilla and Charicles, by Nicetas Eugenianus, which has been erroneously ascribed to Theodorus Prodromus.
2.
A poem entitled
Galeomyomachia
in iambic verse, on " the battle of the mice and cat," in imitation of the Homeric Batrachomyomachia. Victory declares itself on the side of the mice, the cat being killed by the fall of a beam.
Editions
This piece is often appended to the editions of Aesop and Babrius. It has also been edited by K. D. Ilgen, in connection with the Homeric hymns. (Halle, 1796.)
a poem in iambic senarii. Friendship relates how Human Life, to whom she had been married, had repudiated her by the advice of his slave Folly, and given his hand to Enmity.
After a long conversation, depicting the operation of Friendship in the upshot is that Friendship marries the stranger to whom her narrative is addressed.
Editions
This dialogue, with the translation of Conrad Gesner, has frequently been appended to the editions of Stobaeus. A separate edition was published by J. F. Morel. (Paris, 1549.) It is also edited by Honter and Guntius in the collection of the epigrams of Theodorus (Basel, 1536), and by
J. Erard, with some other small poems by the same author. (Leipzig, 1598.)
4. To the Emperor Manuel Comnenus
A poem of above 1000 lines, divided into two books, in which Theodorus complains to the emperor Manuel Comnenus (who reigned from 1143 to 1180) of his extreme poverty, and begs him to withdraw his from the misery which he had to endure in his convent, while those placed over him indulged in debaucheries. About forty lines at the beginning and end of each book are written in old Greek, the remainder in a dialect resembling the modern Greek.
Editions
The poem has been published by Koray, in the first volume of the Atakta (Paris, 1828).
a dialogue in prose.
Editions
Published by Gaulmin, together with No. 1, and
also by De la Porte du Theil (Notices et Extraits, vol. 8.1810).
6. A Dissertation on Wisdom
being an invective against the saying
ἡ πενίη σοφίην ἔλαχεν
Editions
published by F. Morell. (Paris, 1608.)
7. Epigrammata
described more fully as
Τετράστιχα ἰαμβεῖα καὶ ἡρῶα εἰς τὰ κεφαλαιωδῶς ῥηθέντα ἐν τῇ γραφῇ, consisting of poetical summaries of the subject-matter of the books of the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, the four books of Kings, the four Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles.
Editions
Published, first, at Basel (1536), and
afterwards at Angers (Juliomagi, 1632).
elegiac verses, in which he addresses the Apostle Paul, Gregorius Theologus, Basil, Chrysostom, Gregorius of Nyssa, and Nicolaus.
a poem on Providence.
11.
An iambic poem
against a man of the name of Barys, who had attempted to brand him as a heretic.
（
In imaginem vitae); some verses of a political kind.
(iambi
ad Invidos).
14. Some iambics
without any heading (
in hortum).
15. Epistles
Editions
published in a miscellaneous collection by P. Lazeri (Rome 1754).
A piece consisting of 102 senarii, erroneously ascribed by Birger Thorlacius to Manuel Philes.
Editions
published by Thorlacius in Manueli Philae duo carmina anecdota (Copenhagen, 1813), and Opuscula Academica, vol. iii. p. 65. (ibid. 1815.)
Other works
17.
Ἐξήγησις, or Exposition of the Canones or Hymns appropriated to the Dominical festivals.
18. An epitome of the commentaries of Theodoretus on the Psalms.
19.
De Processione Spiritus sancti.
20. A lexicon, a treatise on the grammar of Moschopulus, and some other grammatical notes and treatises (Fabric.
Bibl. Graec. vi. p. 350).
21. An astronomical poem, addressed to the Sebastocratorissa Irene.
22. A poem of 128 hexameters, addressed to the emperor Joannes Comnenus, on the conquest of Kastamon (Germanicopolis) in Paphlagonia.
23. One hundred and eighteen hexameters, in which he sues for the favour of Anna Comnena (the wife of Nicephorus Bryennius).
24. A poem consisting of 100 lines
Κατὰ μακρογενείου δοκοῦντος εἶναι διὰ τοῦτο σοφοῦ.
25. A description of the entry of Joannes Comnenus into Constantinople after the conquest of Kastamon, in 230 heroic verses.
26. A poem of 296 hexameters, addressed to Joannes Comnenus, on the reconquest of Kastamon, and the occupation of Gaugra.
27. A piece consisting of 50 hexameters, in which Theodorus, on his departure from Constantinople, complains of having met with no reward for his labours. (Nos. 20-26 are not mentioned by Fabricius. They exist in MS. at Paris. See La Porte du Theil,
Notices et Extraits des MSS. de la Bibl. &c. vol. viii. pt. ii.)
28.
In posteriora Analytica Aristotelis, and
Περὶ ἐπιδεικτικῶν.
29.
De pauco et multo, magno et parvo, quod non sint relativa sed contraria.
30. Various essays on matters of theology and ecclesiastical discipline.
Editions
The poems numbered 7-12 were published by Honter and Guntius (Basil. 1536) and by
Erard (Lips. 1598).
Further Information
Fabricius,
l.c. ; Schöll,
Geschichte der Griech. Litteratur, vol. iii. p. 81, &c.
