This lecture investigates the fundamental tension between the reality of the Byzantine Empire and the stylized, often deceptive representations found within its surviving literary corpus. Cyril Mango, a preeminent scholar of Byzantine history and art, utilizes his inaugural lecture to challenge traditional historiographical approaches. He argues that Byzantine texts frequently function as a distorting mirror, reflecting the ideological preoccupations of the elite rather than the objective social or political conditions of the era.

Scholars frequently cite this lecture as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of Byzantine source criticism. It remains a highly regarded piece for its concise yet rigorous challenge to traditional interpretations of medieval Greek literature.