Author or Compiler?

This study examines late antique conceptions of authorship through the lens of Pamphilus of Caesarea (ca. 250-310 CE), exploring the apparent contradiction between his literary output and claims of his non-authorship. By analyzing philosophical discourses and textual practices, it investigates how ancients defined authorship and the status of compilers. The research reveals a spectrum of authorial activity in which compilation and transcription occupied an ambiguous position. Pamphilus's case demonstrates how the roles of author, compiler, and scribe often overlapped, challenging modern distinctions between these categories. The study argues that Pamphilus's self-representation as a humble disciple-copyist reflects broader late antique attitudes towards authorship, where compilation could simultaneously be viewed as an act of authorship and an expression of Christian humility.