Psellus, Michael

Psellus, Michael one of the most famous Byzantine writers of the 11th century, was born about the year 1020 at Constantinople. He studied at Athens, and held for many years the first chair in philosophy in his native city. The emperor Constantine Ducas appointed Psellus tutor to the imperial princes. and when Michael Ducas, his former pupil, died, in 1078, Psellus retired to a monastery, where he died in 1106. On account of his many writings Psellus was styled: πολογραφώτατος. His principal works are, De Omnisaria Doctrina 157, διδασκαλία παντοδαπή, a metaphysical exposition of the fundamental ideas of all science: — De Demonum Operatione περὶ ἐνεργείας δαιμόνων, a dialogue, edited by Boissonlade (Paris, 1838), and of special interest for the study of' the sect of the Euchites. A comparison between the ancient Christian and Attic orators is contained in Charakteres SS. Gregorii Theologi, Basilli Magni, Joh. Chrysostom, Gregorii Nysseni. All of Psellus's works are found in Migne, Patrologiae Graecae, volume 122. See Leo Allatius, Diatriba de Psellis (Paris, 1864; reprinted in Migne); Dimitracopoulos, Orthodox Greece (Leipsic, 1872, Greek), page 8; Sathas, Michel Psellus (Paris, 1874, 2 volumes); Lichtenberger, Encylop. des Sciences Religieuses, s.v.; Plitt-Herzog, Real Encyclop. s.v. (B.P.)