Eclogue of Theodulus

The Eclogue of Theodulus (Ecloga Theoduli) was a Latin verse dialogue, which became a standard school text of the Middle Ages. Scholarship generally dates it to the 10th century, though earlier dates are also given.[1]

Authorship

The first known Medieval commentator to attribute the work to an Athenian educated writer named "Theodulus" was Bernard of Utrecht, but today, most scholars agree that Theodulus is a pseudonym, and the author was not educated in Athens, but lived in the West. This is supported by the fact that all sources for the Eclogue are written in Latin. Earlier theories identified Theodulus with Gottschalk of Orbais because both names mean "servant of God", and because Gottschalk is believed to have known some Greek and the use of Greek names in the dialogue, but in 1924 this was disputed by Karl Strecker. Strecker showed the writing style (poetic meter) of Theodulus was different.[2]

Content

The poem is an argument between Alithia (truth) and Pseustis (falsehood), with Phronesis (reason), acting as referee.[3]

References
  1. Ronald E. Pepin, An English Translation of the Auctores Octo: A Medieval Reader, Mediaeval Studies 12 (Edwin Mellen Press, 1999), pp. 25–40.
  2. Poetry and Exegesis in Premodern Latin Christianity: The Encounter Between Classical and Christian Strategies of Interpretation. (2007). Netherlands: Brill.
  3. The Cambridge Medieval History
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