Source edition
Lucian, Vol. 1. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1913.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work consists of two rhetorical speeches centering on the infamous tyrant Phalaris of Acragas in Sicily. In the first part, envoys sent by Phalaris arrive at Delphi to clear their master's reputation as a ruthless despot. They argue that his harsh punishments were merely inevitable self-defense against conspiracies, recount how he justly punished Perilaus, the creator of the notorious brazen bull, by making him its first victim, and request that this bull be accepted as a votive offering to Apollo. In the second part, a Delphian citizen takes up the discourse, urging his compatriots to accept the offering. He warns that judging or rejecting dedications would violate the sanctuary's traditional neutrality and piety, arguing that Delphi's continued prosperity relies on unconditionally welcoming all offerings.