
TRANSLATED BY - H. W. FOWLER AND F. G. FOWLER - VOLUME III - OF FOUR VOLUMES
CONTENTS OF VOL. III - LIFE OF DEMONAX - A PORTRAIT-STUDY - DEFENCE OF THE ‘PORTRAIT-STUDY’ - TOXARIS: A DIALOGUE OF FRIENDSHIP - ZEUS CROSS-EXAMINED - ZEUS TRAGOEDUS - THE COCK - ICAROMENIPPUS, AN AERIAL EXPEDITION - THE DOUBLE INDICTMENT - THE PARASITE, A DEMONSTRATION THAT SPONGING IS A PROFESSION - ANACHARSIS, A DISCUSSION OF PHYSICAL TRAINING - OF MOURNING - THE RHETORICIAN’S VADE MECUM - THE LIAR - DIONYSUS, AN INTRODUCTORY LECTURE - HERACLES, AN INTRODUCTORY LECTURE - SWANS AND AMBER - THE FLY, AN APPRECIATION - REMARKS ADDRESSED TO AN ILLITERATE BOOK-FANCIER - ALPHABETICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS - LIFE OF DEMONAX
A PORTRAIT-STUDY
DEFENCE OF THE ‘PORTRAIT-STUDY’
TOXARIS: A DIALOGUE OF FRIENDSHIP
ZEUS CROSS-EXAMINED
ZEUS TRAGOEDUS
THE COCK
ICAROMENIPPUS, AN AERIAL EXPEDITION
THE DOUBLE INDICTMENT
This volume gathers a lively assortment of Lucian’s sharp‑witted essays and dialogues, opening with a vivid portrait of the philosopher Demonax. Through a blend of biography and moral reflection, the author paints Demonax as a model of modesty, intellectual vigor, and practical wisdom, offering listeners a glimpse of a thinker who prized honesty over fame. The piece balances reverent admiration with the playful irony that marks Lucian’s style, inviting you to consider how ancient philosophy still resonates today.
The collection continues with a series of witty sketches—ranging from the mock‑serious “Zeus Cross‑Examined” to the whimsical “The Fly” and the satirical “The Parasite.” Each work showcases Lucian’s talent for turning everyday subjects into pointed social commentary, all delivered in the crisp, elegant Attic prose that made him a master of satire. Whether you’re drawn to philosophical musings or clever humor, the first act of this volume promises an entertaining journey through the mind of one of antiquity’s most inventive writers.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (515K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Robert Nield, Tom Allen, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Release date
2004-11-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

120–180
A sharp, funny voice from the ancient world, this Syrian-born writer turned satire into an art. His playful, skeptical works mocked frauds, fads, and big egos in ways that can still feel surprisingly modern.
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by of Samosata Lucian

by of Samosata Lucian

by of Samosata Lucian

by of Samosata Lucian

by of Samosata Lucian

by of Samosata Lucian

by of Samosata Lucian

by of Samosata Lucian