Michael Psellos - Other Works

Other Works

Psellos left a large amount of other writings too:

  1. "Historia syntomos", a shorter, didactic historical text in the form of a world chronicle.
  2. A large number of scientific, philosophical and religious treatises. One well-known example of these is De Operatione Daemonum, a classification of demons. He wrote or compiled an important work on philosohy, the De omnifaria doctrina. Other works deal with topics such as astronomy, medicine, music, jurisprudence, physics, and laography.
  3. Various didactic poems on topics such as grammar and rhetorics.
  4. Three Epitaphioi or funeral orations over the patriarchs Michael Keroularios, Constantine III Leichoudes and John Xiphilinos.
  5. A funeral oration for his mother, including a large amount of autobiographic information.
  6. Several panegyrics, persuasive speeches (including works against the Bogomils and Euchites) and speeches addressed to his patron emperors at court.
  7. Several hundred personal letters.
  8. Rhetorical exercises and essays on set themes.
  9. Occasional, satirical, and epigrammatic verse.

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