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Chapter 2 - Ioannes Tzetzes

A Scholar and His Animals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2024

Maroula Perisanidi
Affiliation:
University of Leeds
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Summary

Chapter 2 focuses on Ioannes Tzetzes’ letters and his Chiliades to explore the role that animals could play in the construction of the scholar’s gender. It begins with a discussion of Tzetzes’ preference for mules and the role they played in networks of patronage. It continues to show how Tzetzes challenged hegemonic masculinity by expressing solidarity with animals: not only did he not hunt or kill them, but he also often refused to eat them. In his collection of ancient stories, Tzetzes described animals as capable of friendship, affection, loyalty and grief, and praised their understanding of the world as in some ways superior to that of humans. In his letters, he used his affective connections with animals to justify his open expression of emotions and did not hesitate to grieve for humans, animals and plants. Tzetzes’ writings, through their blurring of human/non-human boundaries, invite us to think differently about animals, past and present, spurring us to develop greater empathy with our natural environment.

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Masculinity in Byzantium, c. 1000–1200
Scholars, Clerics and Violence
, pp. 43 - 72
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Ioannes Tzetzes
  • Maroula Perisanidi, University of Leeds
  • Book: Masculinity in Byzantium, c. 1000–1200
  • Online publication: 07 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009499781.003
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  • Ioannes Tzetzes
  • Maroula Perisanidi, University of Leeds
  • Book: Masculinity in Byzantium, c. 1000–1200
  • Online publication: 07 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009499781.003
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Ioannes Tzetzes
  • Maroula Perisanidi, University of Leeds
  • Book: Masculinity in Byzantium, c. 1000–1200
  • Online publication: 07 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009499781.003
Available formats
×