Maximos Planoudes

Abstract

Maximos Planoudes (1255–1305) was a Byzantine scholar and writer, an influential teacher, learned in many fields, a copyist and “editor” of numerous Greek texts, and a translator of Latin works. His efforts have enriched the manuscript tradition of a considerable part of Greek literary and scientific production. He was the most eminent scholar of his time and probably the most productive Byzantine classical scholar. Planoudes was the first Byzantine with sufficient knowledge of Latin and of Latin culture. He translated systematically theological and secular Latin works (among them Augustine’s On the Trinity and Boethius’ The Consolation of Philosophy) and made possible, after a long time, the communication of Greek- and Latin-speaking worlds. Planoudes is one of the leading figures of the Early Palaiologan Renaissance.