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Lucian of Samosata
Lucian of Samosata was a writer known for his satire. He was born in what is now eastern Turkey, in Samosata, about 120 C.E. Samosata was located in the ancient Roman province of Syria (not to be confused with the modern country); the site was recently inundated by the Atatürk Dam. Lucian was trained as a rhetorician (somewhat like a trial attorney). However, he made a living as an itinerant lecturer. Lucian traveled widely, as far as Greece, Italy and Gaul. He died in Athens, about 180 C.E. Over eighty works, written in Greek, are attributed to him, some probably spuriously. The best known of his works, A True Story, is considered to be one of the first science fiction stories.
A True Story: Parallel English/Greek
The original space odyssey…
The Syrian Goddess
translated by Herbert A. Strong [1913]
Lucian’s hair-raising description of ancient Goddess worship.
The Works of Lucian
translated by H. W. Fowler and F. G. Fowler [1905]
This four volume set includes the vast majority of Lucian’s works.
Mimes of the Courtesans
translated by A.L.H. [1928]
This unexpurgated translation includes three dialogues left out of Fowler.
