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SMITH, S.D., Greek Epigram and Byzantine Culture. Cambridge University Press, 2019. 288p. Hardback. Series: Greek Culture in the Roman World. 'In recent years, Greek epigram, a genre which used to be of only marginal scholarly interest, has at last attracted the attention it deserves. (...) The focus, however, has mostly been on epigram’s emergence as a literary genre during the Hellenistic age. As so often in Classical scholarship, one can still sense, even today, a clear prejudice vis-à-vis later texts. (...) Scholars have shown even less interest in the third major collection excerpted by Constantine Cephalas, namely the Kyklos (Cycle) of Agathias. This early Byzantine anthology was published around 567 AD, shortly after the death of Justinian I, and so falls outside the range of texts most Classicists typically deal with. Its epigrams, however, are deeply immersed in the culture and literary tradition of Hellas and anybody dealing with the genre ought to be familiar with its later development. (...) Steven Smith’s monograph is precisely the kind of book that needed to be written on this subject. It is a pleasure to read from beginning to end. Even if I did not find myself agreeing with every observation, the overall discussion is chock-full with important insights. The author sheds much-needed light on the tension between the epigrams’ concern with the leisurely life (including food, drink, and sex) and contemporary Christian discourses. (...) The book is divided into six chapters, which are preceded by a substantial introduction (1-32) and followed by brief a conclusion (240-246). The Introduction situates the Cycle in its cultural and historical context: while most of the epigrams are pagan in content – refined expressions of Classical paideia –, they were written against the backdrop of Justinian’s reign and its Orthodox Christian morality. (...) Altogether, it remains to be hoped that Smith’s monograph will inspire more scholars to explore this intriguing work. The minor quibbles mentioned above should not distract from the overall excellence of the book. It is a must-read.' (REGINA HÓSCHELE in BMCR 2020.04.50). € 91.05 (New) ISBN: 9781108480239