![]() There are a few lesser-known classical Greek texts that have been preserved only through Arabic translations, but the vast majority of the really famous texts that people still study today have actually been preserved in the original Greek. The idea that the majority of ancient Greek texts have only been preserved because they were translated by Arabic scholars is largely a misconception. In fact, the vast majority of ancient Greek texts that have survived to the present day are primarily known from Greek manuscripts that were either copied in the Byzantine Empire or copied from texts that were copied in the Byzantine Empire. When the Byzantines are mentioned in this context, it is usually by writers who see them as ignorant fundamentalist Christian obscurantists.Ĭontrary to what popular culture would lead you to believe, however, the Byzantine Empire did retain Greco-Roman knowledge. The Byzantine Empire is rarely mentioned in the context of the preservation of classical texts. ![]() ![]() ![]() There is a widespread belief among members of the general public that ancient Greek texts were mostly only preserved by the Arabs through Arabic translations. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |