Routledge - The Dynamics of Rhetorical Performances in Late Antiquity

Explore the complex social and political landscape of the late antique world through the lens of oratorical skill. This scholarly work from Routledge examines how narrations of rhetorical performances served as a way to reflect the intense debates of the era. By looking at how cultural elites competed and used self-presentation to establish religious orthodoxy, the book provides a deep look into the social structures of the time. Readers will learn how comments on oratorical displays were used to make moral and ethical judgments about performers. The text focuses on specific late antique authors, including Themistius, Synesius of Cyrene, and Libanius of Antioch, to build its argument. This book is an essential resource for those studying ancient history, Roman civilization, and the evolution of rhetorical traditions in late antiquity.