Byzantine writers

Leontius Pilatus, or Leontius (Leonzio Pilato; died 1366) (Latin: Leontius Pilatus, Greek: Λεόντιος Πιλάτος, Leontios Pilatos, Italian: Leonzio Pilato), was a Calabrian scholar and was one of the earliest promoters of Greek studies in Western Europe.

Michael Attaleiates or Attaliates (Greek: Μιχαήλ Ἀτταλειάτης) (c.1022-1080) was a Byzantine public servant and historian active in Constantinople and around the empire's provinces in the second half of the eleventh century.

George Kodinos or Codinus (Greek: Γεώργιος Κωδινός), also Pseudo-Kodinos, kouropalates in the Byzantine court, is the reputed 14th-century author of three extant works in late Byzantine literature.

Georgius Pachymeres (Greek: Γεώργιος Παχυμέρης) (1242 – c. 1310), a Byzantine Greek historian, philosopher and miscellaneous writer, was born at Nicaea, in Bithynia, where his father had taken refuge after the capture of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204.

Joannes or John Zonaras (Greek: Ἰωάννης Ζωναρᾶς, Iōánnēs Zōnarâs; fl. 12th century) was a Byzantine chronicler and theologian who lived in Constantinople.

Procopius of Gaza (c. 465-528 AD) was a Christian sophist and rhetorician, one of the most important representatives of the famous school of his native place.

Aeneas of Gaza (d. c. 518) was a Neo-Platonic philosopher, a convert to Christianity, who flourished towards the end of the fifth century.

Euthymius Zigabenus or Zigadenus or Zygadenus (Greek: Εὐθύμιος Ζιγαβηνός or Ζιγαδηνός; died after 1118) was a 12th-century monk and commentator on the Bible.

John the Lydian or John Lydus (Greek: Ἰωάννης Λαυρέντιος ὁ Λυδός; Latin: Ioannes Laurentius Lydus) was a 6th-century Byzantine administrator and writer on antiquarian subjects.

Cyril of Scythopolis (ca. 525-559 CE), also known as Cyrillus Scythopolitanus (Greek: Κύριλλος ὁ Σκυθοπολίτης, Kyrillos ho Skythopolitēs), was a Christian monk, priest and Greek hagiographer or historian of monastic life in Palestine in the early years of Christianity (6th century CE).

Theodore Balsamon (Greek: Θεόδωρος Βαλσαμῶν) was a canonist of the Eastern Orthodox Church and 12th-century Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.

Matthew Blastares was a 14th-century Byzantine Greek monk in Thessalonica and early scholarly opponent of reconciliation with Rome.

Libanius (Greek: Λιβάνιος, Libanios; c. 314 – 392 or 393) was a Greek teacher of rhetoric of the Sophist school.

Nikolaos of Otranto (ca. 1155/60 in Otranto – February 9, 1235), also known as Nektarios of Casole, was a Greek abbot and author.

Symeon the Metaphrast (also referred to as Simon or Symeon the Logothete, in classicizing usage Symeon Metaphrastes) was the author of the 10 volume medieval Greek menologion, or collection of saint's lives.

Himerius (Greek: Ἱμέριος; c. 315 – c. 386) was a Greek sophist and rhetorician.

Maximus Planudes (Greek: Μάξιμος Πλανούδης, Máximos Planoúdēs; c. 1260 – c. 1305) was a Byzantine Greek monk, scholar, anthologist, translator, grammarian and theologian at Constantinople.

John Mauropous (Greek: Ἰωάννης Μαυρόπους, Iōánnēs Maurópous, lit. "John Blackfoot") was a Byzantine Greek poet, hymnographer, and author of letters and orations, who lived in the 11th century.

Simon Atumano was the Bishop of Gerace in Calabria from 23 June 1348 until 1366 and the Latin Archbishop of Thebes thereafter until 1380.

Saint Diadochos of Photiki was a fifth-century ascetic whose works are included in the Philokalia.

Cosmas Indicopleustes (Greek Κοσμᾶς Ἰνδικοπλεύστης, literally "Cosmas who sailed to India"; also known as Cosmas the Monk) was an Alexandrian merchant and later hermit.

Eustathios Makrembolites (Greek: Εὐστάθιος Μακρεμβολίτης), Latinized as Eustathius Macrembolites, was a Byzantine revivalist of the Greek romance, flourished in the second half of the 12th century CE.

Hesychius of Miletus (Greek: Ήσύχιος ο Μιλήσιος Hesychios o Milesios), Greek chronicler and biographer, surnamed Illustrius, son of an advocate, flourished at Constantinople in the 6th century AD during the reign of Justinian.

Demetrios Kydones, Latinized as Demetrius Cydones or Demetrius Cydonius (Greek: Δημήτριος Κυδώνης; 1324 in Thessalonica - 1398 in Crete), was a Byzantine theologian, translator, writer and influential statesman, who served an unprecedented three terms as Mesazon (Imperial Prime Minister or Chancellor) of the Byzantine Empire under three successive emperors: John VI Kantakouzenos, John V Palaiologos and Manuel II Palaiologos.

Demetrios Chalkokondyles (Greek: Δημήτριος Χαλκοκονδύλης), Latinized as Demetrius Chalcocondyles and found variously as Demetricocondyles, Chalcocondylas or Chalcondyles (1423 – 9 January 1511) was one of the most eminent Greek scholars in the West.

Michael Psellos or Psellus (Greek: Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Mikhaēl Psellos) was a Byzantine Greek monk, writer, philosopher, politician and historian.

Theophylact Simocatta (Byzantine Greek: Θεοφύλακτος Σιμοκάτ(τ)ης Theophylaktos Simokat(t)es; Latin: Theophylactus Simocattus) was an early seventh-century Byzantine historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of Late Antiquity, writing in the time of Heraclius (c. 630) about the late Emperor Maurice (582–602).

Andronicus Callistus (Greek: Ἀνδρόνικος Κάλλιστος) was one of the most able Greek scholars of the 15th century and cousin of the distinguished scholar Theodorus Gaza.

Eunapius (Greek: Εὐνάπιος; fl. 4th–5th century AD) was a Greek sophist and historian of the 4th century AD.

Nicholas Kabasilas or Cabasilas (Greek: Νικόλαος Καβάσιλας; born 1319/1323 in Thessalonica; died 1392) was a Byzantine mystic and theological writer.

Gregory II of Cyprus (Greek: Γρηγόριος ο Κύπριος, 1241–1290) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople between 1283-1289.

Theodore Prodromos or Prodromus (Greek: Θεόδωρος Πρόδρομος; c. 1100 – c. 1165/70), probably also the same person as the so-called Ptochoprodromos (Πτωχοπρόδρομος "Poor Prodromos"), was a Byzantine writer, well known for his prose and poetry.

John Moschus (Greek: Ιωάννης Μόσχος, c. 550 – 619; name from the Ancient Greek: ὁ τοῦ Μόσχου o tou Moschou "son of Moschos", was a Byzantine monk and ascetical writer.

Leontius (c. 485 – c. 543), was a theological writer, and introduced Aristotelian definitions into theology.

Nikephoros Choumnos (Greek: Νικηφόρος Χοῦμνος, c. 1250/55 – 1327) was a Byzantine scholar and official of the early Palaiologan period, one of the most important figures in the flowering of arts and letters of the so-called "Palaiologan Renaissance".

John Lazaropoulos (c.1310 - 1369) was the Metropolitan of Trebizond (as Joseph) from 1364 to November 1367 and a religious writer.

Athanasios of Emesa (Ἀθανάσιος ὁ Ἐμεσαῖος/Ἐμεσηνός; Emesa is now Homs in Syria) was a Byzantine jurist living in the 6th century.

John Pediasimos (Greek: Ιωάννης Πεδιάσιμος; ca. 1250 – early 14th century), also known as John Pothos, was a Byzantine churchman, scholar, astronomer, mathematician, mythologist, syllogistic, musician, and physician active at Constantinople, Ohrid and Thessalonica.

James of Venice was a significant translator of Aristotle of the twelfth century.

Michael Doukas Glabas Tarchaneiotes or Michael Tarchaneiotes Glabas (Greek: Μιχαὴλ Δοῦκας Γλαβᾶς Ταρχανειώτης; born c. 1235, died after 1304) was a notable Byzantine aristocrat and general.

Photios I (Greek: Φώτιος Phōtios; c.  810 – c. 893), also spelled Photius (/ˈfoʊʃəs/) or Fotios, was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 858 to 867 and from 877 to 886; He is recognized in the Eastern Orthodox Church as St.

Nikephoros Blemmydes (Latinized as Nicephorus Blemmydes) (Greek: Νικηφόρος Βλεμμύδης) was 13th-century Byzantine literary figure.

Nicetas (Νικήτας) was an 11th-century Greek clergyman.

(Not to be confused with Eusebius of Caesaria.) Eusebius of Alexandria is an author to whom certain extant homilies are attributed.

Leo Choirosphaktes, sometimes Latinized as Choerosphactes (Greek: Λέων Χοιροσφάκτης) and also known as Leo Magistros or Leo Magister, was a Byzantine official who rose to high office under Emperor Basil I the Macedonian (r. 867–886) and served as an envoy under Emperor Leo VI the Wise (r. 886–912) to Bulgaria and the Abbasid Caliphate.

Manuel Holobolos (Greek: Μανουὴλ Ὁλόβολος; ca. 1245 – 1310/14) was a Byzantine orator and monk, who was a leading opponent of the Union of the Churches in the reign of Michael VIII Palaiologos (r. 1259–1282).

Andronikos Doukas Kamateros (Greek: Ἀνδρόνικος Δούκας Καματηρός) was a Byzantine aristocrat, senior official under Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, and theologian, best known for his theological treatise Sacred Arsenal.