George Syncellus
Italy- Byzantine Historian of the 8th-9th Centuries
- Early Life and Career
- Monastic Life and Historical Work
- "Selected Chronography"
- Chronological Innovations
- Legacy
Byzantine Historian of the 8th-9th Centuries
George Syncellus (c. 780 - 810) was a Byzantine historian who lived at the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his exact lifespan, his biography can be pieced together from his own historical work, the "Selected Chronography," and contemporary accounts.
Early Life and Career
George was a monk who served as the personal secretary, or syncellus, to Patriarch Tarasius of Constantinople (784-806). He likely acquired his nickname "Syncellus" due to this position.
Monastic Life and Historical Work
After Patriarch Tarasius's death, George retired to a monastery, where he is believed to have compiled his historical treatise. In 810, he was still alive, as his chronicle mentions the year 6302 from the creation of the world as the current year.
"Selected Chronography"
George Syncellus's "Selected Chronography," a compilation of historical accounts, spans from the creation of the world to the accession of the Roman emperor Diocletian in 284 AD (5792 years). He drew material from the Bible, works by Josephus Flavius, and other ancient authors.
Chronological Innovations
Unlike other Byzantine chronicles, Syncellus incorporated chronological calculations based on ancient Greek Olympiads for events in Greco-Roman history. To harmonize with the history of other cultures, he referenced tables compiled by the ancient Egyptian priest Manetho and the Babylonian scholar Berosus. By establishing a chronology and aligning it with the biblical timeline, Syncellus organized events chronologically.
Legacy
Academician V. M. Istrin suggests that an abbreviated translation of Syncellus's Chronography into Old Church Slavonic may have emerged during the time of Kievan Rus'. Three 15th-century manuscripts of this translation are known, with two still extant. Syncellus's chronicle was little used in Russian chronicles due to its concise nature.
