A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

15. GRAMMATICUS, one of the continuators of Byzantine history from the period when Theophanes leaves off. Nothing certain is known of him. A note, subjoined by the transcriber, to the Parisian MS. of Georgius Syncellus, Theophanes, and Leo Grammaticus states that "the chronography of the recent emperors, completed (πληρωθεῖσα) by Leo Grammaticus, was finished on the 8th of the month of July, on the feast of the holy martyr Procopius, in the year 6521 (of the Mundane era of Constantinople), in the 11th Indiction," A. D. 1013 common era; but there can be little doubt that this date refers to the completion, not of the original work, but of the transcript. Cave indeed understands the date as being that of the original work. A postscript to the same MS., but by a different hand, gives to Leo the surname of Tzicandalus (Τζικάνδαλος), and states that he was civil and military governor (πρόεδρος δὲ δούξ) of the Cibyraeans, and one of the household (or perhaps the intimate friend, for the expression οὶκεῖος ἅνθρωπος is ambiguous) of our mighty and supreme (or chief, πρώτου) emperor. Combéfis (Notae ad Leonem Grammat. ad initium) understands the emperor to be Constantine Porphyrogenitus [CONSTANTINUS VII.], which is probable; and though there are some difficulties about this inscription, which prevent our giving entire credit to it, we do not participate in the doubt of Combéfis whether it refers to Leo Grammaticus or the anonymous continuator of Theophanes. The town of Cibyra is by Pliny included in Caria, and this furnishes Combéfis with one reason for identifying Leo Grammaticus with Leo the Carian mentioned by Cedrenus. (Compend. Historiae, sub init.) That the two are identical is very probable; but the epithet "Carian" is probably given rather from Leo's birthplace than from his government, which appears to have included not merely the town of Cibyra, but the whole thema of the Cibyraeans or Cibyrrhaeans (θέμα Κιβυρραιωτῶν, Constant. Porphyrog. De Themnatib. i. Th. 14), comprehending all the S.W. part of Asia Minor, and, of course, Caria. Leo Grammaticus is perhaps identical with the Leo Asinus, ὁ Ἀσινός, mentioned by Joannes Scylitza (apud Montfaucon, Biblioth. Coislin, p. 209).