Translations from Greek and their political use: Theodore Gaza, Panormita, Aelianus Tacticus

Abstract

The paper offers an analysis of the prefatory letter to the Latin translation of Aelianus’ Tactica theoria, written by Theodore Gaza and dedicated to Antonio Beccadelli (Panormita) in 1456 during his stay at the Aragonese court of Alfonso the Magnanimous in Naples. After a general introduction to the Greek author Aelianus Tacticus, his work Tactica theoria, and its reception, the paper focuses on the main themes presented in the letter, particularly the exaltation of Alfonso as a learned and virtuous monarch through the figure of his praeceptor, Antonio Panormita, and through Panormita’s eloquence, as well as the ideological significance of Gaza’s translation of a treatise on military tactics such as that of Aelian.