Source edition
Aristides. Vol. 1. Dindorf, Wilhelm, editor. Leipzig: Reimer, 1829.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is an autobiographical memoir by the second-century orator Aelius Aristides, documenting his struggles with illness, the resumption of his rhetorical career, and his legal battles over civic exemptions, all guided by the dreams and oracles of the healing god Asclepius. The narrative begins with the author undergoing grueling journeys and purification rituals under divine command, leading to a miraculous recovery from his long-standing disease. In the middle section, Aristides composes hymns inspired by the gods and resumes his public speaking, while experiencing vivid dreams of mystical union with deities and encounters with great ancient writers that confirm his supreme eloquence. The focus then shifts to his struggle in the secular world, where he negotiates with Roman provincial governors to secure exemption from public liturgies and handle land disputes. Guided by oracles to the very end, Aristides successfully defends his privileges in court, concluding with a profound sense of being under the special protection of the divine.