Menander Protector

Menander Protector, a notable Byzantine historian, was born in Constantinople during the mid-sixth century AD. His life is primarily known through his own account referenced in the Suda, where he mentions his father Euphratas, a native of Byzantium, and his brother Herodotus. Initially, Menander pursued a career in law but soon abandoned it in favor of a more hedonistic lifestyle.

As his fortunes waned, the literary patronage of Emperor Maurice, under whom he served as a military officer, inspired Menander to embark on a writing career. This transition led him to history, where he sought to emulate Agathias, a fellow jurist and historian. Menander's historical narrative picks up where Agathias left off, covering the tumultuous period from the arrival of the Kutrigurs in Thrace during Justinian's reign in five hundred fifty-eight to the death of Emperor Tiberius in five hundred eighty-two.

Menander's work, though sometimes criticized for its bombastic style, is regarded as a reliable source for sixth-century history, particularly in geographical and ethnographical contexts. He was an eyewitness to many of the events he chronicled, adding a layer of authenticity to his accounts. In addition to his historical writings, Menander also composed epigrams, one of which, detailing the martyrdom of a Persian magus who converted to Christianity, is preserved in the Greek Anthology.

Fragments of Menander's historical work can be found in several collections, including C. W. Müller’s Fragmenta historicorum Graecorum and J. P. Migne’s Patrologia Graeca. His contributions to literature were further translated by Roger Blockley in the work titled 'The History of Menander the Guardsman,' published in nineteen eighty-five.