Grammarand (Graeco-) roman identity: the case of Priscian’s “preface” to the institutionesgrammaticae (c. VI AD)

Abstract

Priscian’s epistle to Julian, which prefaces the modern editions of his Institutiones grammaticae (c. VI AD), offers interesting aspects of the discursive project carried out by the grammarian. Among them, we highlight the fact that Priscian calls out the Greek grammarians – not the Latin – as the very models he intends to follow. In this article, we present an analysis for this epistle, both taking into consideration its relationship with the Institutiones grammaticaein its context of production, and pointing out the role of discursive memory and imitatio as important factors to produce a discourse in support of a Graeco-Roman identity. Such discourse is carried out, on the one hand, by the revival of some technical aspects of the Greek grammar by Apollonius Dyscolus, and, on the other hand, by the critical reading of such legacy.