Le epistulae commendaticiae di Basilio di Cesarea fra tradizione e innovazione

Abstract

: Basil’s Letters of Recommendation between Tradition and Innovation . Late antique letter collections are mostly interesting in order to discover less known aspects of the daily life. This essay deals with Basil of Cae-sarea’s correspondence and his recommendation letters, which are very useful to track back his social and cultural networks, mainly with imperial high-rank offi-cers (Modestus, Helladius, Aburgios). Recommendation letters ask for tax exemp-tions to monks and priests, require intervention to help widows, orphans, poors, save friends in peril.