panegyricus

Panegyricus is a Latin term that denotes a formal, laudatory speech or written work that extols a person, institution, or achievement. The word derives from Greek panegyrikos, meaning “delivered at a panegyric,” with panegyris referring to a public assembly or festival where such praise might be expressed.

In classical rhetoric, panegyric (panegyricus) was a recognized genre characterized by ceremonial praise rather than critique. Panegyrics were delivered in public settings—at court, at festivals, or during commemorations—and could praise emperors, patrons, or civic leaders. The rhetoric tends to emphasize virtus, loyalty, and public harmony, employing elevated style and rhetorical devices to celebrate the subject’s achievements and values.

The Panegyrici Latini is a well-known collection of Latin panegyrics dating from the late 1st to early 3rd centuries CE. The twelve extant pieces praise various emperors and officials, though authorship is often uncertain. The works illustrate the stylistic and formal conventions of Roman panegyric, including generous praise, appeals to unity and stability, and the political function of propaganda alongside literary merit. They also offer historical insights, even when filtered through a laudatory lens.

In modern usage, panegyric and panegyricus refer to any formally laudatory speech or writing, often as a neutral term for eulogies, ceremonial praises, or celebratory literary pieces. The genre remains a standard reference in studies of rhetoric and classical literature.