Progymnasmata, exercises in the study of declamation, were the cornerstone of elite education from Hellenistic through Byzantine times. The Rhetorical Exercises of Nikephoros Basilakes, translated here into English for the first time, illuminate teaching and literary culture in one of the most important epochs of the Byzantine Empire.

In The Rise and Fall of Nikephoros II Phokas, Denis Sullivan presents five Byzantine Greek texts that document the remarkable career of Nikephoros II Phokas, emperor from 963 until his death in 969. The first three texts are historical chronicles covering the period 944-963, which sees Nikephoras’ rise from military general. The fourth is a “historical epic” poem on the successful Byzantine expedition against Arab Crete in 960-961, for which Nikephoros was the field commander. The last text is a liturgical office that declares the slain emperor a martyr and a saint. These texts, translated into English for the first time, provide information on the Phokades that is not found elsewhere in the Greek sources, and the chronicles appear to reflect now lost pro-Phokan family sources.

NIKEPHOROS 26, 2013 Aufsätze Maria CHRISTIDIS, Theseus, mehr als ein Nationalheld. Zum kampanischen Lekanisdeckel der Universität Graz Thomas HEINE NIELSEN, A Note on the athloi in Drakon’s Homicide Law Evangelos ALBANIDIS, Exercise in Moderation. Health Perspectives of Hellenic Antiquity Cecilia NOBILI, Celebrating Sporting Victories in Classical Sparta. Epinician Odes and Epigrams Filippo CANALI DE ROSSI, Addizione di alcuni vincitori olimpici al catalogo degli Olympionikai. Il caso di Euagoras Andrew FARRINGTON, The Pythia of Sicyon Reyes BERTOLIN CEBRIAN, Change in Methods of Athlete Development in Hellenistic and Roman Imperial Sport? Christoph EBNER, Rechtliche Aspekte der Tierhetzen in Rom. Von der Republik bis in die Spätantike Jean-Paul THUILLIER, Factions du cirque et propriétaires de haras dans l’Espagne romaine Lucas CHRISTOPOULOS, Combat Sports Professionalism in Medieval China (220–960 AD) Marcel SIMONIS, Alea iacta est! Antikenrezeption in modernen Brettspielen Stephan WASSONG, Olympic Historiography in Germany. The Main Topics and the Challenges Bibliographie Zinon PAPAKONSTANTINOU/Sofie REMIJSEN, The Annual Bibliography of Sport in Antiquity 2013 Rezensionen Paul CHRISTESEN/Donald G. KYLE (eds.), A Companion to Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity, Malden MA: Wiley Blackwell 2013 (Mark Golden) Demetrios G. PAPAGEORGIOU, Olumpia kai Olumpiakoi Agwnej , Athen: Kapon 2013 (Wolfgang Decker) Hazel DODGE, Spectacle in the Roman World, London; New York: Bristol Classical Press 2011 (Jean-Paul Thuillier) Martin STESKAL/Martino LA TORRE, Das Vediusgymnasium in Ephesos. Archäologie und Baubefund, Wien: Verlag der ÖAW 2008 (Peter Scherrer) Drei Neuerscheinungen zu Agonistik, Gymnastik und anderen Formen der Freizeitkultur in der Spätantike (Ingomar Weiler) Günter MANSFELD, Der Held auf dem Wagen (Wolfgang Decker)

A study of the theology of Patriarch Nikephoros (758-828), who defended the icons during the iconoclastic conflict.

A LESS THAN PERFECT PRINCESS... Princess Theodora of Constantinople is to marry Duke Nikolaos, General-in-Chief of the army, a man chosen for her by the Emperor. An imperial princess must always do her duty: be beautiful, obedient and pure. But Theodora spent ten years in exile in a barbarian land. There, once, she might have forgotten protocol. Forgotten enough to have given birth to a baby in secret. As her wedding night approaches Theodora finds she wants to share her bed with the Duke, except she knows she's on the verge of revealing her biggest sin... Palace Brides Beauties of Byzantium – claimed by warriors!