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 is an ethical essay that exposes the terrible evils of slander born from human ignorance and emphasizes the crucial role of reason in counteracting it. The author begins with the story of Apelles, a painter from Ephesus who fell victim to a rival's slander, and provides a detailed description of Apelles' allegorical painting depicting Slander along with personifications of Ignorance, Suspicion, and Repentance. He analyzes the underhanded techniques of slanderers in royal courts and power struggles, explaining how they cunningly distort the truth to exploit the listener's weaknesses and how outstanding individuals are often targeted. Using historical examples of victims from the courts of Ptolemy and Alexander the Great, the text illustrates how slander and flattery siege the human mind like an army attacking a fortress, leading to tragic betrayals. Ultimately, the work warns against the danger of hastily believing rumors, urging readers to appoint reason as a gatekeeper to rigorously examine the truth for themselves.