Ethopoiea Dramatica by Manuel Philes

Ethopoeia Dramatica is a metrical praise penned by the most renowned poet of the Early Palaeologan period, Manuel Philes, in favor of the Grand Domestikos, scholar and subsequently Emperor, John VI Kantakouzenos. Philes with this unique oeuvre in terms of style, form and aesthetics, depicts a lengthy lyrical portrait of the man who dominated the Byzantine Empire in the mid-14th century. Employing a rich vocabulary, fluent and lively language and a variety of rhetorical techniques, the poet produces elegant and elaborate verses, thereby demonstrating his skill as a word artist who transforms his poetry into an ‘articulate painting’. This study presents a critical edition of the text, accompanied by an English translation, a detailed introduction and a comprehensive commentary, aiming to illuminate and interpret the diverse aspects of this multifaceted work.