John of Epiphania

John of Epiphaneia was a late antique historian who lived in the 6th century.

Life and work

John came from Epiphaneia in Syria, was a Christian and a cousin of Evagrius Scholasticus. John had apparently enjoyed a good education, which included a study of law. 590, he served as legal counsel ( consiliarius ) Gregory worked, the Patriarch of Antioch. In this context, John witnessed the flight of the Persian King Khosrau II and in the Roman Empire and met well together even with him. Chosroes attained through the support of the Eastern Roman Emperor Maurikios back the throne, John himself is likely to have visited Persia.

John wrote a historical work, which described the war with Persia at the time of Justin II and Maurikios, where he was based, inter alia, Menander Protector, but otherwise probably could also interview witnesses himself. Evagrius knew the work of John, and it will have probably used, although Evagrius seems to argue at one point in his church history against its representation. John's historical work was used by Theophylaktos Simokates extensively; then Theophylaktos based in part in the description of the run Chosraus to the Romans mainly on the presentation of John. From the work of John, however, only a fragment has been preserved, which comprises the proem and the beginning of the first book. John tried on the basis of Thucydides to be clear and even looked obviously in the tradition of late-antique classical historian.

Even in the 12th century, the histories of John were read apparently, because Anna Comnena quoted him almost literally in her work Alexia.

Editions and translations

• Geoffrey B. Greatrex, Samuel N.C. Lieu: The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars. Part II AD 363-630. A narrative sourcebook. Routledge, London and New York 2002, p 351 ( source index, see John Epiph. ).
• Carl Mueller: Fragmenta historicorum Graecorum. Vol 4, Paris 1851, pp. 272-276 (online).