On the Possible Literary Models of Nikephoros Basilakes’ Bagoas

Nikephoros Basilakes’ twelfth-century invective Bagoas attacks a eunuch who bears that name. Several studies have shed light on its historical context, genre, and the author’s performance of masculinity that aims to diminish his effeminate opponent. In this paper, I intend to explore the possibility that the name “Bagoas” derives from past exemplars, which, unsurprisingly, are associated with eunuchs, effeminate men, and sacrilegious actions in general – themes that resonate in Basilakes’ Bagoas. These exemplars include the Book of Judith from the Old Testament, as well as Lucian’s The Eunuch, both of which include eunuchs named Bagoas who are shown in a bad light. While these two sources seem to be the most relevant to Basilakes’ treatise, possible connections to historical figures with the same name are also taken into account.