Source edition
Lucian, Vol. 6. Kilburn, Kenneth, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1959 (unrenewed copyright).
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a prose piece that illustrates the importance of finding a patron in a foreign land through the historical anecdote of Scythian sages who found great guides in Athens. The narrative begins with Toxaris, a Scythian deified in Athens, reuniting with his compatriot Anacharsis, who has just arrived and is bewildered by his new surroundings. To guide Anacharsis through the city, Toxaris introduces him to Solon, the most revered sage and the very embodiment of Athens. Solon and Anacharsis form a deep bond of friendship, through which Anacharsis gains renown throughout Greece. At this point, the narrator shifts from the ancient anecdote to his own experience, comparing his astonishment upon arriving in a Macedonian city to Anacharsis's feelings. Seeking guidance in this new place, the narrator is introduced by the citizens to an influential father and son, concluding with a discourse on the immense benefits of establishing a friendship with these prominent figures.