When Poetry becomes Emotion: Embodying Compunction in selected Katanyktic Poems from the Middle and Late Byzantine Period

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the somatic effects of κατάνυξις (“compunction”), a prominent emotion within the Byzantine penitential tradition, as depicted in Middle and Late Byzantine katanyktic poetry. These texts provide a unique lens through which to examine Byzantine conceptions of interiority. Following an initial overview of katanyktic poetry and its defining characteristics, this study elucidates the concept of compunction and its significance within the Byzantine cultural and religious context. Subsequently, the corpus of texts selected for analysis is delineated. Finally, the article explores the corporeal manifestations of κατάνυξις in penitents, with specific consideration given to the physical mortifications employed as expressions of inner repentance. The analysis reveals that the Holy Scriptures served as a primary source of models for penitential behavior and provided vivid imagery for the representation of compunction.