Abstract

For two decades, the standard work on Themistius has been the long treatment by Gilbert Dagron in Travaux et Memoires 3 1-242. Dagron concentrates on the ideas expressed in the works of Themistius, especially as they reflect one view of Hellenism in the Roman Empire during the fourth century A.D. In that work, Themistius emerges as the exponent of the new empire of Diocletian and Constantine in contrast to more traditional Greek views of the Roman Empire, expressed by the emperor Julian, Libanius and others. Because of his interest in the two concepts of Hellenism, Dagron eschews detailed discussion of Themistius' relations with the emperors and of Themistius' life. ;This thesis is designed to complement Dagron's work by concentrating on the life of Themistius as a philosopher and politician at the imperial court, using his panegyrics of the emperors as the main sources. It begins with a short discussion of Themistius' position in the history of rhetoric and philosophy , reaching the conclusion that he is more characteristic of the second century A.D. in both areas, and examines the early life and upbringing of Themistius from the perspective of an education which engendered views held for the rest of his life. ;The rest of the thesis, with the exception of the Epilogue , is an examination of Themistius' relations with emperors of the East from Constantius to Theodosius. Themistius emerges as a philosopher who had harmonious relations with the imperial court during most reigns, Julian being a notable exception. Themistius played an important role in the formation of policy in the later part of his life, especially under Valens and Theodosius. The panegyrics, when placed alongside other evidence, are the best indications of this, and, in a negative way, Themistius' problems with his contemporaries confirm close relations with the court. In the final analysis, Themistius was an important figure in late imperial society in the East. His life and work reveal much about the workings of the imperial court in the fourth century A.D. and about the relations of Christian emperors with one group of pagans