Satire and Historiography

Abstract

This paper examines the reception of classical historiography in Lucian’sDe historia conscribendaby suggesting that classical historians constitute a vehicle through which the author constructs his ownpersona; while presenting the rules of historiography, Lucian often equates himself to the classical historians. After offering a brief outline of the relevant vocabulary, expressions and allusions, I argue that Lucian’s exploitation of classical historiography does not aim merely at aesthetic imitation or parody, but serves a deeper function: Lucian wishes to establish a connection between theact(traits, process) and thetheoryof history writing and uses the former in order to legitimize the latter. Furthermore, his adaptation of classical historians (especially Thucydides) has a self-referential aspect, since the ideal historian should possess the qualities of the competent orator that Lucian himself represents. I interpret these traits of Lucian’s treatise by taking into account the cultural context of the second sophistic, as well as Lucian’s thematic interests and priorities.