Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams

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Type 5718
(formerly typ/3747)

	Αἰὼν ὁ μακρὸς ὥσπερ ἄνθη τοὺς λόγους
	ἁπανταχοῦ γῆς ἔσχεν ἐσκεδασμένους,
	ἀνθοῦντας, οὐ πέμποντας εὔπνοον χάριν.
	Τὰ νῦν δὲ τούτοις εὐστεφὴς Κωνσταντῖνος
	δρέψας, ἀγείρας ἐμμελεῖ μουσουργίᾳ
	προύθηκε πᾶσιν θελκτικὴν εὐοσμίαν,
	ὅσοις λόγου μέτεστιν, εὐώδεις λόγους.
	Ὃν τοῖς λόγοις στέφοιμεν ὡς λόγων φίλον.
	Ἀσυγκρίτως γὰρ ἐν μέδουσιν ἐκπρέπει,
	λάμπων, προφαίνων χρηστότητα τοῦ κράτους
	γίγας φεραυγὴς ὥσπερ ἡλίος φάος
	ἐχθροῖς ἅπασιν, εὐνόοις θ’ ὑπηκόοις.
	Οὐκοῦν βοάτω πρὸς θεὸν πᾶς τις μέροψ·
	'Τιθωνὸν αὐτὸν δεῖξον ἄλλον ἐν χρόνοις,
	ὡς ἂν τὰ λῷστα τῷ βίῳ συνεισφέροι.'

Title(s)	Ἴαμβοι σημαίνοντες τὴν βασιλικὴν ἀγωγήν
Text source	A. Németh, 2018, The Excerpta Constantiniana and the Byzantine Appropriation of the Past, Cambridge: 268-269
Text status	Text completely known
Editorial status	Critical text
Genre(s)	Author-related epigram Patron-related epigram Text-related epigram
Metre(s)	Dodecasyllable
Subject(s)	Konstantinos VII Porphyrogennetos (May 905 - 09/11/959) - PBW: Konstantinos/7/ - PMBZ: 25888: "Personenkennziffer: 23734"
Tag(s)	Dedication Entreaty for a third person Praise of the author Reference to content of the book
Critical Notes	Critical apparatus taken from Németh (2018: 269). BW = Büttner-Wobst’s conjectures; Salmasius = the iambic poem in Parisinus gr. 2550, f. 120r, copied by Claude Saumaise (1588–1653); C = Carpentras, BM (Bibliothèque Inguimbertine), 1774, ff. 121r-122r 3 Ἁπανταχοῦ ] ἀπανταχοῦ Salmasius 4 εὔπνοον ] εὐπνόον Salmasius 7 πᾶσιν ] πᾶσιν Salmasius, BW – πᾶσι C, Valesius 9 στέφοιμεν ] C, Salmasius, Valesius – στέφωμεν corr. Dindorf, BW 12 φεραυγὴς ] φεραυγῆς Valesius – φεραυγὴς C, Salmasius, Dindorf; ἡλίος ] ἡλίου Dindorf, BW, del. C – ἡλίος C, Salmasius 16 συνεισφέροι ] συνεισφέρει C
Translation(s)	The long passage of time left texts scattered everywhere on Earth like the flowers in bloom, yet not emitting their sweet-smelling grace. Constantine, possessing a delightful crown of these, by plucking and gathering them with melodious inspiration, offered to all persons of intelligence a charming aroma of fragrant texts. Let us crown him with words, as he is fond of words. In his brilliance he stands out incomparably among rulers, a luminous Giant shining forth like the sun with the goodness of his power upon all foes and loyal subjects alike. Let all voices shout as one to God: ‘Render him another Tithonus in years, so that he might give the best to our life.’ Language English Source(s) A. Németh, 2018, The Excerpta Constantiniana and the Byzantine Appropriation of the Past, Cambridge: 63 IAMBIC POEM MANIFESTING TRUE ROYAL CONDUCT The long passage of time has scattered texts, like flowers, everywhere about the earth. Blossoming, they did not transmit their sweet-smelling grace. But now, crowned well by them, Konstantinos plucked some and, composing melodious musical poetry, set an enchanting aroma and fragrant texts before all who partake of higher culture. Let us wreath him with our words, that lover of words. He stands out incomparable among rulers, shining, manifesting beneficial power, a Giant bringing the dawn like the light of the sun, to all his enemies and to his loyal subjects alike. Thus, let all men who have a voice cry out to God, “Make him another Tithonos of longevity, so that he can bring better things into our lives.” Language English Source(s) A. Kaldellis, 2015, Byzantine Readings of Ancient Historians, Abingdon and New York: 44
Comment	The epigram also occurs in the 17th-century manuscript Carpentras, Bibliothèque Inguimbertine, 1774 (ff. 121r-122r), where it precedes the "Excerpta de Virtutibus et Vitiis" and it is followed by a Latin version. The 17th-century manuscript Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 2550 (f. 120r) also preserves this text.
Bibliography	Primary T. Büttner-Wobst, 1906, Excerpta historica iussu imp. Constantini Porphyrogeniti confecta. Excerpta de virtutibus et vitiis (vol. 2.1), Berolini: 3 L. Dindorf, 1870, Historici Graeci minores. Nicolaus Damascenus, Pausanias Damascenus, Dexippus, Eusebius, Eunapius, Priscus, Eustathius Epephaniensis, Nestorianus Magnus, Eutychianus, Ioannes Epiphaniensis, Malchus, Petrus, Praxagoras, Candidus, Theophanes Byzantius, Olympiodorus, Nonnosus (vol. 1), Leipzig: LXXXII M. Lauxtermann, 2003, Byzantine Poetry from Pisides to Geometres (vol. 1), Vienna: 354 H. Valesius, 1634, Diodori Siculi, Nicolai Damasceni, Dionysii Halicar., Appiani Alexand., Dionis et Joannis Antiocheni excerpta ex collectaneis Constantini Augusti Porphyrogenetae, Paris: 6 Secondary A. Kaldellis, 2015, Byzantine Readings of Ancient Historians, Abingdon and New York: 41-46 A. Németh, 2018, The Excerpta Constantiniana and the Byzantine Appropriation of the Past, Cambridge: 60-71
Number of verses	15
Occurrence(s)	[23002] Αἰὼν ὁ μακρὸς ὥσπερ ἄνθη τοὺς λόγους [11th c.] TOURS - Bibliothèque Municipale 980 [951-975] () (15 verses)
Acknowledgements	Contributor(s) Julián Bértola, Anne-Sophie Rouckhout The credits system has been implemented in 2019. Credits from before the new system was in use might be incomplete.
Identification	Vassis ICB 2005, 24: "In laudem Constantini VII Porfyrogeniti"
Permalink	http://dev.dbbe.ugent.be/types/5718

Last modified: 2026-01-19.

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