Nonnus of Panopolis in Upper-Egypt is the author of the 48 books of the last large scale mythological epic in antiquity, the Dionysiaca. The same author also wrote an epic poem on the life and times of Jesus Christ according to St Johnâs Gospel. Nonnus has an outstanding position in ancient literature being at the same time a pagan and a Christian author, living in a time when Christianity was common in the Roman empire, while pagan culture and traditional world views were still maintained. The volume is designed to cover literary, cultural and religious aspects of Nonnusâ poetry as well as to highlight the social and educational background of both the Dionysiaca and the Paraphrasis of the Gospel of St. John.
Herbert Bannert, Professor of Classics, University of Vienna, Austria, has published monographs and many articles on Homer and Greek epic poetry, on Greek tragedy, including a German translation of Sophoclesâ Oedipus Rex, and on Ancient Historiography.
Nicole Kröll, PhD (2014), is the author of a monograph on the Ampelus-episode in the Dionysiaca of Nonnus of Panopolis (De Gruyter, 2016). She has also published articles on late antique poetry, including a co-authored contribution to Brillâs Companion to Nonnus of Panopolis.
All interested in ancient mythology, Late Antiquity, Greek poetry and in the interpretation of Greek and Latin epic as well as readers of Bible epic and the Gospel of St John.