On the influence of Gregory the Theologian's poetic style on poets of the 5th century (Nonnus, Eudocia)

The purpose of this study is to trace how poets of Late Antiquity worked with texts of their predecessors, as well as to determine what texts they could take as a model. To that end, a method of complex analysis is applied with the use of special research program (TLG). Thе article discusses examples of identical epic formulas, cliches and separate lexemes (monoverbal formulas) found by the author in poetic works by Gregory of Nazianzus, Nonnus and Eudocia. These examples help the reader to understand the method of work typical of the poets of that period, who were creating their verses with the use of the archaic, artificial, not natural for them but acquired language. At the core of poetic work of Late Antiquity lies a serious philological work and careful study of the existing poetry so that poets could assimilate grammatical and metrical rules, as well as develop their own poetic vocabulary. Although the basis of this individual vocabulary was formed by the language of Homer and other classical authors, poets of Late Antiquity treated with great attention the literary works of their immediate predecessors. For the poets of the 5th century AD, Gregory of Nazianzus was already a new classic, not less authoritative than Homer, and his deviations from the classical norm even influenced the very notion of norm for Christian poetry, which allowed more freedom in comparison with the classical authors. Even such a significant poet as Nonnus did not mind borrowing some formulas in a particular metrical position ("sedes") from Gregory's works as well as allowed himself some metric licenses, which could be easily avoided. As far as Eudocia is concerned, she often composed her verses in semi-centonic technique and even more willingly used various epic formulas. In particular, some prosaisms or dialect forms used by Eudocia are in fact borrowings from the poetry by Gregory. This fact allows Eudo-cia to be freed from the blame of ignorance and insufficient knowledge of the earlier tradition. These observations of poetic language allow us to speak about the common method of the poets of Late Antiquity, despite the difference in their talents.