I thought that this short part of Eudocia's preface to her Ionia 'Violet Garden', a collection of Greek myths and so forth, might be of some interest. It is interesting because Eudocia makes the connection that not all weapons are arms, but the written word.

Eudocia Macrembolitissa: Violarium recensuit et emendabat Fontium testimonia. ed. John Flach. published B.G. Teubneri. 1880.

Violet Bed: a collection of gods, heroes, the genealogy of heroines, their metamorphoses, myths, allegories, and the works of ancient as well as about diverse wise men to Christ-loving and most pious emperor Romanus Diogenes, conqueror, victor.

I am hopeful to add this to the many other works praising you on returning to the capital, victorious emperor, since not only shall you find the empire well administered by me, but also the city adorned with virtue and fair morals, as well as education for which there is nothing more precious than the knowledge of learned men and the study of the study worthy that makes splendid the garden of Adonis bursting with all sorts of sweet smelling plants with the beauty of its virtues, rivaling even the Macedonian city in the great numbers of learned men and in all the manner of famous Athens long ago, whose fame reaches to the heavens. For education knows thus how to set everything right, to extinguish the barbarian, to restore the eloquence of language, and is able to bring order to the world. It is also the instrument that learned men use with daily exhortations in reading to draw away the spirit's lack of education and implant firm understanding, not only in the Queen of Cities, but also in all of Greece (vassals are want naturally to share in their ruler's mind as it always looks on it like a target). When we look to it, discord ends and undoubtedly peace comes. What more need be said and praise to be said to it that is already praised by all? Has it not with persuasion recently soothed the distress of our race? Has not it discovered devices and battle arrangements? Does it not repel one's opponents when necessary and save one's friends, and provide all things fit to the mortal human life? Do not those who eagerly receive it become exceedingly prosperous increasing their empire to its height, while those who put little value lose themselves in general falling into the great dangers of a lack of education unable to find a way to help themselves? There are many stories of kings within my work, who prosper so as long as they do not stop to beautify themselves with virtue.

Turning over this many times in our head without cease, I thought it necessary with the revival of schools to relight the spark of virtue call back the words and exciting everyone to study. So that I should not seem a disreputable herald of these things, with the same ever great care for everything, which you make use of to turn the enemy to flight, this little girl I have given birth from my heart adorned with all sorts of stories and genealogies of gods and nymphs, heroes and heroines, such that a Violet Bed has burst into blossom (here contained are many wise men flourishing at divers times, myths, allegories, and their explanations after the faith of the ancients, since they are useful to lovers of learning, as well as other things no less useful and necessary for the student by with which it is swaddled) collected from our most precious library. In it, there also many books I have added from divers spots gathered together with care and great expense turning our imperial mind to gather together a work of men and not let perish uncared about these things. With your Imperial Majesty judging it, it will be published and join its sisters. I will start with the myth of Athena as she is the chief of wisdom like the wise men of old figuratively called her and from there I will write what follows in alphabetical order.