The Works of Lucian

By Daniel Zimmermann

Lucian was an effective satirist, something like Voltaire. A Cynic philosopher named Menippus appears in many of his works. Quack philosophers are brutally lampooned, but the Cynics are treated more gently. He almost seems to admire them.
One of his essays is a pack of lies entitled "A True Story," Another satirizes the greed of the people in charge of the oracle of Delphi, who are willing to accept a gift even from the notorious Phalaris of Agrigentum. In another, Menippus has conversations with various shades in the land of the dead. Another warns against slander.. There is also an encomium honoring Demosthenes.
Lucian even directs barbs at the gods of Greece and Rome. In one of his essays, the chief gods decide that too many residents of Olympus do not have proper credentials. They decide to weed out those who do not belong there.
Unfortunately, Lucian was not a Christian, and Christians are mildly satirized in "The Death of Proteus Peregrinus." However, Christians are not the principal object of his satire in this essay.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Zimmermann
• Release date: Feb 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005287061

Daniel Zimmermann

Daniel Zimmermann was born in Merrill, Wisconsin, and grew up in Hustisford, Wisconsin. He was graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin. His valedictory concerned the ancient philosopher Plotinus. Special honors were third place in an Eta Sigma Phi Greek composition contest and the Doctor Ott award. He was also graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. After serving as pastor for several years, he became a free lance writer. Because of the outstanding success of his Spanish poetry in Mexico, his biography was included in Who's Who in the Midwest. He is also a former member of American Mensa. He is married to Merian, nee Ecot. The couple is residing in the Philippines. Daniel Zimmermann is the author of short stories and poetry. He also writes non-fiction, especially on literature, history, Christianity, and botany.

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The Works of Lucian

By Daniel Zimmermann

Lucian was a prototype of Voltaire. Like his spiritual descendant, his writings abound in satiric humor.

He was born in Samosata in the Roman province of Syria, but he did not stay there all his life. Somehow he managed to enjoy an excellent education, for he wrote in Attic Greek, and his works betray familiarity with the classics. He devoted a significant portion of his life working as an itinerant lecturer, but his chief claim to fame is the works that he wrote while residing in Athens from 175 to 185, according to Wikipedia.

Unfortunately, Lucian was not a Christian, though he probably did not approve of the persecution to which Christianity was subjected. Nevertheless, in The Death of Peregrinus, he satirizes our spiritual brethren. At least he is more genial than Voltaire.

The Lord has been kind to Lucian. In contrast to many authors whose writings have perished, many of Lucian’s works survive to the present day.

In presenting these works, we shall begin with the one mentioned above and continue with others of special interest.

All the works that I am treating have been attributed to Lucian. I can only hope that the attribution is correct.

The Death of Peregrinus Proteus

In form, this work is a satirical biography, Its details may be accurate, at least to some extent. However, a eulogist would have betrayed a more favorable bias.

Lucian begins at the end. Peregrinus had cremated himself in the year 165 during the Olympic games, and Lucian apparently witnessed this event. At least, he pretended that he did.

He believed that Peregrinus was an old fool and treated him with mock sympathy. He underscored the ostentation with which he removed himself from the land of the living: he was just like Empedocles; only with a difference. That philosopher would fain have sneaked into his crater unobserved: not so our high-souled friend. He bides his time till all Greece is mustered in full force - constructs a pyre of the largest dimensions - and jumps on top in the eyes of all the world, having briefly addressed the nation a few days before on the subject of his daring enterprise.

Lucian claimed that he freely expressed his opinion when the event occurred and that he suffered the hostility of the Cynics (the philosophical sect to which Peregrinus belonged). They would like to have torn him