Belisario : il potere e l'invidia : un capitolo di storia letteraria greca, da un'edizione cinquecentesca al teatro delle ombre

It is well known that the Novel of Belisarius, probably originating from around the 12th century, confuses the fates of Justinian's most successful general Belisarius with those of Flavius John (also known as John of Cappadocia), who had plotted against the emperor. Since its first appearance, the Belisarius legend has aroused unceasing popular interest and has generated numerous reinterpretations. This paper offers a brief reflection on the modern perception of the historical figure of Belisarius, starting with a successful printed edition from Venice intended for a 16th-century Greek-speaking public. [Publisher's text]