The research project “Byzantine Poetry in the ‘Long’ Twelfth Century (1081–1204)” seeks a postdoctoral researcher.

The project “Byzantine Poetry in the ‘Long’ Twelfth Century (108–1204): Texts and Contexts”, directed by PD Dr. Andreas Rhoby and funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF (Project P 28959), aims to investigate the poetry of the times of the Komnenoi and Angeloi in conjunction with its various contextual areas of production and delivery (court, classroom, theatre, church etc.) and on the basis of heterogeneous discursive forms and genres (e.g., epic, satiric, didactic, occasional and epistolary poetry). In addition, it focuses on the examination of various aspects associated with twelfth‐century poetry (e.g. patronage, authorship, circulation and mobility of texts, education system, and performance) and will describe its prominent place in the literary production and socio‐cultural context of the Komnenian period and beyond.

The position involves independent research, i.e. the production of one substantial article on (one of) the above-mentioned subjects in a peer‐reviewed journal and the completion of a first draft of the edition of a long hitherto unedited or inadequately edited poem of the period. It also includes the participation in the academic and organizational preparation of a three‐days conference on Byzantine poetry in the ‘long’ twelfth century in June 2018. In this context, the successful candidate is also expected to contribute to the preparation of the publication of the proceedings of the conference.

The successful candidate will have

1. a PhD in Byzantine Studies with specific focus on Byzantine literature (preferably poetry)
2. excellent knowledge of Ancient and Byzantine Greek
3. editorial skills (and experience in editing Byzantine texts) including an excellent knowledge of Greek palaeography
4. a very good knowledge of Byzantine literary, political and cultural history, especially of the period 1081‐1204
5. a substantial record of publications
6. excellent knowledge of English (and preferably a working knowledge of German)

The duration of the position is 12 months, with a possible renewal for an additional 13 months. The successful candidate will be located at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Medieval Research, Division of Byzantine Research.