It focuses on Greek writers from the heroic age of Homer, to the sixth-century CE ecclesiastical and pagan historians. In order to understand the innovative aspects of the new Christian heroic ideal as Procopius presented it, the thesis traces the origins and development of both Classical and Christian notions of valor. Procopius’ writing reveals that sixth-century Eastern Roman society was abandoning Classical constructions of heroism based on an individual’s worldly achievements and military prowess and adopting Christian notions of courage dependant on piety, humility, and divine intervention. It argues that, despite Procopius’ reputation as the last great Classical historian, he created heroes that were firmly rooted in the sixth-century CE Christian Byzantine world. This thesis examines the sixth-century CE Byzantine historian Procopius’ notion of men’s heroic conduct.
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