Life The author of Ὁ Θρῆνος (The Lament) is anonymous. The work dates from between the 4th and 10th centuries CE, placing it within the Late Antique or Byzantine period, and is composed in Byzantine Greek. Its anonymity is typical of much Byzantine liturgical and poetic production, where authorship was often secondary to function or tradition [1].

Works The sole known work is the poetic Ὁ Θρῆνος. It is a lament in Byzantine Greek verse, though its specific subject, length, and more precise date remain unspecified.

Significance Ὁ Θρῆνος exemplifies the continuity and adaptation of the classical Greek lament tradition into the Byzantine Christian era. This genre was utilized for liturgical hymns, historical laments for cities, and personal dirges [1]. The work thus highlights the enduring rhetorical and emotional power of a foundational poetic form, bridging the Hellenic past with Orthodox Christian culture.

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: Lament, Greek: https://oxfordre.com/classics/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-9680