ABSTRACT
One can only dream now of the regular visits of distinguished Byzantinists to Queen’s who would come to teach and present research seminars for Byzantium in Belfast’. Given Margaret’s interests in Byzantine literature, friendship and gender, and her own gift for hospitality, it seems fitting to make the Life of Basil the Younger the focus of the author's little offering. This chapter analyses the occurrences of eunuchs in the text, the details of Basil’s stays in and visitations to various households, and the nature of his special relationship with Gregory. A special concern is to consider the existence of unmarried laymen in Byzantium. As an unmarried layman, Basil II was thus not unique. The Life of Basil the Younger is notable for drawing attention to this category of man, a category which deserves further study.
