Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams

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Type 5704
(formerly typ/3739)

	[Τ]ῶν Μακκαβαίων ἡ ἀριστεία ξένη·
	ὡς ἑπτάφωτος λυχνία γὰρ ἐν μέσῳ
	σὺν τῇ γηραιᾷ μητρὶ καὶ τῷ πρεσβύτῃ
	τεθεῖσα τῶν μὲν τὴν τύραννον μανίαν
	καθεῖρξεν, τῶν δὲ τὴν νομοκράτιν φύσιν
	ξενοτροφοῦσα{ν} ἡλίου δίκην φέρει.

Text source	A. Rhoby, 2018, Ausgewählte Byzantinische Epigramme in Illuminierten Handschriften, Wien: 490-491
Text status	Text completely known
Editorial status	Critical text
Genre(s)	Image-related epigram Text-related epigram
Metre(s)	Dodecasyllable
Subject(s)	Antiochus IV Epiphanes (215 BC - 164 BC) Eleazar Makkabees
Tag(s)	Description of an image Miniature Reference to content of the book
Critical Notes	6 φέρει ] φαίνει Mango
Translation(s)	Marvellous is the exploit of the Maccabees. Along with the aged mother and the old man, it is like a lamp of seven lights placed in the middle [of a room]. It has restrained the oppressive frenzy of some, while it shines like the sun in sustaining the law-observing nature of others. Language English Source(s) C. Mango 2011, The Epigrams, in P. Canart (ed.), La Bible du Patrice Léon. Codex Reginensis Graecus 1, Città del Vaticano, 59-79: 74 Der Makkabäer außergewöhnliche Tapferkeit – sie steht nämlich wie ein siebenarmiger Leuchter in der Mitte zusammen mit der alten Mutter und dem Greis; sie wies den tyrannischen Wahnsinn der einen in Schranken und bringt die gesetzbewahrende Natur der anderen, sie, die gastfreundliche, wie die Sonne herbei. Language German Source(s) A. Rhoby, 2018, Ausgewählte Byzantinische Epigramme in Illuminierten Handschriften, Wien: 490
Bibliography	Primary C. Mango 2011, The Epigrams, in P. Canart (ed.), La Bible du Patrice Léon. Codex Reginensis Graecus 1, Città del Vaticano, 59-79: 74 T. Mathews 1977, The Epigrams of Leo Sacellarios and an Exegetical Approach to the Miniatures of Vat. Reg. Gr. 1, Orientalia Christiana periodica, 43, 94-134: 132-133
Number of verses	6
Occurrence(s)	[22986] τῶν μακκαβαίων ἡ ἀριστεία ξένη [926-975] VATICAN CITY - Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana - Reg. gr. 1 [926-975] (f. 450v) (6 verses)
Acknowledgements	Contributor(s) Anne-Sophie Rouckhout, Cristina Cocola The credits system has been implemented in 2019. Credits from before the new system was in use might be incomplete.
Identification	BEiÜ IV, VAT101 Vassis ICB 2005, 815: "Leo Sacellarius*, In septem pueros Maccabaeos"
Permalink	http://dev.dbbe.ugent.be/types/5704

Last modified: 2026-01-19.

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