Ermotimo e Marco Aurelio
abstract
Lucian loves to manipulate iconic literary types with biographical details of contemporary celebrities thereby creating an intriguing dialectical exchange between fantasy and reality. Following this pattern, the main character of the Hermotimus both descends from the immortal philosophers of comedy and reveals some traits of the ‘philosopher in purple’ Marcus Aurelius. If the highlighted similarities between the image of Hermotimus and Marcus Aurelius’ life and are convincing, it becomes possible to suggest dating the dialogue to around 176 AD.
Keywords: Hermotimus • Lucian • Second Sophistic • Roman History • Marcus Aurelius