In the period 867-1025 the Byzantine chronological tradition continued. Herein we have to place the work of Joseph Genesios as well. The offspring of a noble family of the 9th-10th centuries from Constantinople and related to the family of Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos. The latter ordered Genesios to write the history of 9th century's Byzantine emperors up to the foundation of the Macedonian dynasty by Basil I, work that he indeed carried out. His work, however, corresponds more to the calls of a chronicle rather than to those of a historical work: as the sources he mentions include information provided by elderly people or rumours, while his historical narration swarms with prophecies, visions, auspices and impressive relations. Another chronicle, with the title "From the Creation of the World up to 948" still exists nowadays under the name of Symeon the Magistros and Logothete. This, however, presents a difficult scientific problem: in this text there are many manuscrtipts, each bearing the name of a different writer. Thus, the enigma regarding the author of the whole work- consisting of several parts- has not yet been resolved. |