Antony of Tagrit and the Progymnasmata: Towards a Syriac Rhetorical Theory in the Abbasid Era

Abstract

This paper investigates the engagement with Greek progymnasmata exercises shown by the first rhetorical handbook in Syriac: Antony of Tagrit’s On Rhetoric (ninth century). Despite lacking any specific reference to progymnastic authors or texts and having its own peculiarities and foundations, the rhetorical theory presented in Antony’s treatise bears many connections to the progymnasmata, which will be presented here. Moreover, the paper positions Antony within the Abbasid world and, while keeping a specific focus on the Greco-Syriac connections within Syriac rhetoric, explores the impact of the “Abbasid factor” on this tradition.

Keywords

• Syriac rhetoric
• Antony of Tagrit
• Progymnasmata
• Syriac rhetoric under the Abbasids