Source edition
Lucian, Vol. 4. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1925 (printing).
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This satirical dialogue depicts the journey of the protagonist Menippus, who, driven to despair by the immorality of the earth and the contradictions among philosophers, descends into the underworld (Hades) in search of the true way of life. The story is framed as Menippus, returning from the underworld in a bizarre disguise, recounts his adventures to a friend he meets on earth. Guided by a Babylonian magus, he descends into Hades, where he witnesses the strict judgments passed on the dead and sees once-powerful rulers reduced to wretched, identical skeletons. Comparing human life to a theatrical procession with assigned roles, Menippus realizes the futility of wealth and status. Ultimately, he receives counsel from the prophet Tiresias, who advises that the best way to live is as an ordinary person enjoying the present, before returning to the upper world.