Paul the Silentiary (Παῦλος ὁ Σιλεντιάριος) was a Greek poet of the mid-6th century CE, active during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. His epithet indicates he held the court position of silentiarios, responsible for maintaining order in the imperial palace [1]. A contemporary of the historian Agathias, his sophisticated verse and high office suggest he was a well-educated member of the Constantinopolitan elite [1].

His two major works are both ekphraseis commissioned for the rededication of Hagia Sophia in 563 CE: the Ekphrasis of Hagia Sophia (Ἔκφρασις τοῦ ναοῦ τῆς Ἁγίας Σοφίας), a 1,029-line hexameter poem describing the rebuilt church, and the shorter Ekphrasis of the Ambo (Ἔκφρασις τοῦ ἄμβωνος) [1][3]. Additionally, approximately eighty of his epigrams, primarily on erotic and convivial themes, are preserved in the Greek Anthology [1][2].

Paul is a significant figure in Late Antique literature, demonstrating the continuation of classical Greek poetic forms within a Christian Byzantine context. His ekphraseis are invaluable historical documents, providing a detailed contemporary description of Hagia Sophia’s architecture and furnishings [1][3]. His epigrams offer insight into the social and literary culture of the Justinianic court.

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-4782 2. Perseus Digital Library, Greek Anthology, Book 5: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0475:book=5 3. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/byzantine-philosophy/#LateAnt