Libanio su Antiochia e Costantinopoli (Ep. 114 Foerster): una indiretta risposta a Temistio

Abstract

This paper examines a letter written in 360 by the Antiochene rhetor Libanius to his fellow citizen Datianus, a member of the comitatus of Constantius II (Ep. 114 Foerster). The focal point of the letter, for which an Italian translation is provided, is the plea that the Emperor return to Antioch, a city in which he had resided for most of the years between 337 and 350. In doing so, Libanius not only reaffirms his attachment to Antioch’s civic identity but also seems to respond to the portrayal of Constantinople as the origin of Constantius’ power, as presented in Themistius’ speeches written in 357 (Orr. 3 and 4 Hardouin).