1. SIMOCATTA (ὁ Σιμοκάττης,
Σιμόκαττος, Σιμοκάτης, or Σιμοκάτος, for all these
forms of the name are found), was an Egyptian by descent, but a Locrian by birth; and
flourished at Constantinople, where he held some public offices (ἀπὸ ἐπαρχων καὶ ἀντιγραφεύς, Phot.) under Heraclius, about A. D. 610-629, though it is evident that he was writing
before this period, probably in retirement.
Works
History of the Reign of the Emperor Maurice
Theophylactus' chief work was a history of the reign of the emperor Maurice, in eight
books, from the death of Tiberius II. and the accession of Maurice, in A. D. 582, down to
the murder of Maurice and his children by Phocas in A. D. 602.
There are various indications in the work itself, that Theophylact was living and writing in
retirement during the reign of Phocas, and it seems probable that he had been personally
acquainted with Maurice. Thus, he contrasts the depressed state of literature under Phocas
with the favour it enjoyed under Heraclius, in a Dialogue between Philosophy and History,
which is prefixed to his work. After the death of Phocas in A. D.
610, he read in public from an elevated position the passage of his history
describing the death of Maurice, and the people were moved to tears by the recital. This
statement, which we have on the authority of Theophylact himself (8.12) proves that his work
was partly written during the reign of Phocas; while on the other hand, he mentions in the
same chapter the conclusion of the Persian war, by the death of Chosroes II. in A. D. 628, so that the work could not have been completed till that year
or the next, in which Theophylact appears to have died.
The history of Theophylact, which is known by the Latin title of
Historiae Mauricii Tiberii Imperatoris Libri VIII., seems to be the same work
which is quoted by Eustathius (
ad Dionys.
Perieg. 730) by the title of
ἱστορία
οἰκουμενή, which seems to refer to the fact, that it was not confined to the
affairs of Constantinople, but contained notices of events occurring in all parts of the
known world.
Besides the work itself, we have an epitome of it by Photius (Bibl.
Cod. 65), who relates some particulars respecting the author, and characterises his style
very minutely, as being not destitute of grace, but often frigid and puerile through the
frequent occurrence of figures and allegorical turns of expression, and tiresome from the
interruptions of moral reflections inserted out of season.
Other Works
The other works of Theophylact are (2) Eighty-five Letters, consisting of the three
classes of Morales, twenty-nine in number, Rusticae, twenty-eight, and Amatoriae, twenty-eight; and (3)
Problems in Physics (Ἀποριαι Φυσικαί, Quaestiones Physicae), respecting the nature of animals, and especially of
man.
Editions
There is no complete edition of Theophylact's works.
The edition of A. Schottus, with a Latin Version by Kimedoncius, Antverp. 1598, 1599,
8vo., comprising all his then known works, does not contain the History, but
only the Epitome of it by Photius. The account of embassies in this edition is no distinct
work, but a collection of extracts from the History.The History was first published, from a MS. in the library of Maximilian of Bavaria,
with a Latin version, by Jac. Pontanus, Ingolst. 1604, 4to.; revised, and with
a Glossary of the low Greek words, by C. Annib. Fabrotti, Paris, 1648, fol.;
reprinted in the Venice collection of Byzantine historians, 1729, fol. :
it has also been edited by Imm. Bekker, in the Corpus Script. Hist.
Byzant. Bonn, 1834, 8vo.
The Letters were published in the Epistolae Graecae of
Aldus, 1499, 4to. and of Cujacius, 1606, fol., and, in Latin only,
by Haller, Cracov. 1509, 4to.
The Quaestiones Physicae were published, with the similar work of
Cassius Iatrosophista, by Rivinus, Lips. 1653, 4to.
The Letters and Physical Questions were published together, Lugd. Bat. 1596, 12mo.,
with the works of Cassius Iatrosophista; again, with the Quaestiones of
Cassius, and the Letters of Julian, Gallus, Basil, and Gregory of Nazianzus, by Bonaventura
Vulcanius, Lugd. Bat. 1597, 12mo.; and, lastly, with the Latin version of
Kimedoncius, and critical notes, by Boissonade, Paris, 1835, 8vo.
Further Information
Cave, Hist. Litt. s. a. 611, p. 575; Hankius, de
Byzant. Rer. Scriptor. pt. i. pp. 186-194; Vossius, de Hist.
Graec. pp. 329, 330, ed. Westermann; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol.
vii. pp. 582-586; Schröckh, Christliche Kirchengeschichte, vol.
xix. pp. 92-94; Hoffmann, Lex. Bibliogr. Script. Graec.