Progymnasmata: Greek Textbooks of Prose Composition and Rhetoric

The four textbooks of prose literature and elementary rhetoric were written in Greek during the time the Roman Empire, and were used through the Byzantine period. They are attributed to Theon, Hermogenes, Aphthonius, and Nicolaus. The curriculum they describe a series of set exercises of increasing difficulty was the source of facility in written and oral expression for many people, and training for speech in public life. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)