Χοῖρος e χοιρώδης: nota a margine di uno studio del lessico denigratorio bizantino contro i Latini e i Musulmani

This article applies the modern concept of hate speech to Byzantine literature, examining how derogatory vocabulary – specifically the terms χοῖρος («swine») and χοιρώδης («swinish») – was used to construct and reinforce collective identities. Unlike traditional invective, which is aimed at individuals, Byzantine hate speech targeted entire ethnic and/or religious groups, shaping perceptions of the Other and strengthening in-group cohesion. Drawing on biblical and patristic imagery that associated pigs with impurity and moral corruption, Byzantine authors employed these terms not only in personal satire but also against groups such as Muslims, Latins, Jews, and heretics. The case study illustrates how recurring slurs acquired ideological force across genres and periods, and outlines criteria for analysing such terms within the LiDoBIPH project's structured lexicon.