Eustathios Makrembolites facts for kids
Eustathios Makrembolites was a famous writer from the Byzantine Empire. He lived in the second half of the 12th century. He helped bring back the style of ancient Greek romance novels. Sometimes, people think he might be the same person as Eumathios Makrembolites, who was an important official in the city.
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Who Was Eustathios?
His special title, Protonobilissimus, showed he was a very important person. If he was also the main keeper of church records, it means he was a Christian. He wrote a Byzantine novel called The Story of Hysmine and Hysminias. This book has eleven parts.
His Famous Novel
Eustathios was inspired by great writers like Homer and other Greek poets. However, he mostly used the writing style of Choricius of Gaza, a famous speaker. His writing is special because it avoids breaks in sound and uses a lot of antithesis (where opposite ideas are put together).
Some experts believe the best parts of his book are the descriptions of art. These descriptions seem to come from things he saw himself.
How His Work Influenced Others
Eustathios's novel became important later on. It influenced stories like the one about Apollonius of Tyre. For example, a scene from Eustathios's book about a storm at sea and a heroine being offered as a sacrifice was used by John Gower. This scene appeared in Book 8 of Gower's Confessio Amantis.
Later, this part of the story also became a small part of William Shakespeare's play, Pericles, Prince of Tyre, especially in Act III.
His Riddles
Eustathios is also known for writing a collection of eleven Riddles. Another writer, Manuel Holobolos, wrote the answers to these riddles.
Images for kids
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Cover of Les amours d’Ismene et d’Ismenias, a 1743 translation into French of Hysimine and Hysimines(12th century)
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