Abstract
The object of this thesis, entitled "Theodoret and the Greek Pagan Writers," has been to determine how much Theodoret, a Christian writer of the fourth and fifth centuries, knew about the Greek pagan writers in so far as one is able to judge by noting the writers referred to, the number of references made to each, the passages quoted, and the contents of each reference or quotation in the first six of his twelve sermons, entitled, "Graecarum Affectionum Curatio." |Before considering the presentation of the matter, it would perhaps be well to first consider what has been taken as a single reference, because, not infrequently, a writer is referred to more than once in a few lines. If all citations have been made in regard to a single theme, they have been considered as one reference. But if they concern different themes, as for example, the enumeration of philosophical opinions, they . have been regarded as several references. For this reason there may be two or more numbers placed among the references of various writers which are identical and seem to indicate the same reference. |In regard to the presentation of the matter, the writer has set aside a short introductory chapter on Theodoret’s life, and works, and the contents of the sermons. The writers themselves have been classified according to ancient and epic, or lyric and iambic poets, dramatists, historians, aid philosophers, and a separate chapter devoted to each group. |The material given about each author is that only which can be obtained from the references in the first six sermons. The object in each instance has been to treat each as completely as possible, and when direct quotations have not been used in giving the subatance(sic) of a reference an endeavor has been made to keep the phrases used by Theodoret. |The matter occasionally presented in the foot-notes is not from the sermons. but from references on Greek literature. |Then in a concluding chapter, various speculations on Theodoret’s knowledge of the Greek pagan writers, how much of them he read, and whence he obtained his material, are set forth.