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 oratorical work delivers a passionate praise of one's homeland, exploring why the "native land" is so precious and irreplaceable to human beings. The author begins by asserting that the homeland is a sacred place not only for humans but also for the gods, serving as the source of all things beautiful and good. Furthermore, the homeland is presented as having crucial importance as the starting point where individuals receive their education and acquire language. In the latter half, the discourse argues that whatever wealth or education one acquires should be dedicated to the public good of the homeland, emphasizing that no matter how successful one becomes in foreign lands, everyone ultimately yearns to return home. Even if the homeland is poor and barren, its native citizens still love it deeply, and the work concludes by showing how the absolute weight of the homeland in laws and on the battlefield proves its ultimate value.