Luciano di Samosata, "Timone o il misantropo": Introduzione, traduzione e commento (Beitrge zur Altertumskunde, 290) (Italian Edition)

In the Greek literature of the imperial period, Lucian of Samosata is surely one of the most versatile and creative figures. Thanks to his Dialogues he became one of the most famous and appreciated ancient Greek authors, and his fame could only be compared to Plato or Plutarch ́s. Within Lucian ́s works, Timon is referable to the author ́s maturity and it is considered to be one of the best and most typical dialogues. Its modern success is evident through several translations (such as Erasmus of Rotterdam ́s version) as well as a great number of works which are inspired by it (for example The Life of Timon of Athens by Shakespeare or The Misanthrope by Molière). The appeal of this Dialogue lies mainly in the protagonist, Timon of Athens, a genuine misanthrope ́s archetype, a powerful and interesting figure, capable of fascinating until today.

Within Lucian’s works, Timon is referable to the writer’s maturity and it is considered to be one of the best and most typical dialogues written by the author from Samosata. This study tracesthe story of the fascinating and enigmatical character of the Athenian Timon, a archetype of a misanthrop, in his literary development up tohis crucial meeting with Lucian of Samosata. The work offers, for the first time, an analytical commentary on Lucian’s Timon. The reader will find in the book an introduction, which is divided in four different sections: the first contains some general noteson the Second Sophistic and Lucian; the second restores the literary development of the misanthrope Timon from his origins in the Attic comedy to the II century a.D.; the third part offers an analysis of the relationship between Lucian’s Timon and the literary tradition, and, afterwards, an investigation into the dialogue’s fortune from the II century to the XX century; the last section gives short butexhaustive details about the literarystyle and the language used in the work. To facilitate the consultation, the analytical commentary is again divided into sections ‐ each one witha short individual introduction ‐and follows the Greek text and the translation.

Within Lucian's works, Timon is referable to the writer's maturity and it is considered to be one of the best and most typical dialogues written by the author from Samosata. This study traces the story of the fascinating and enigmatical character of the Athenian Timon, a archetype of a misanthrop, in his literary development up to his crucial meeting with Lucian of Samosata. The work offers, for the first time, an analytical commentary on Lucian's Timon. The reader will find in the book an introduction, which is divided in four different sections: the first contains some general notes on the Second Sophistic and Lucian; the second restores the literary development of the misanthrope Timon from his origins in the Attic comedy to the II century a.D.; the third part offers an analysis of the relationship between Lucian's Timon and the literary tradition, and, afterwards, an investigation into the dialogue's fortune from the II century to the XX century; the last section gives short but exhaustive details about the literary style and the language used in the work. To facilitate the consultation, the analytical commentary is again divided into sections ‐ each one with a short individual introduction ‐ and follows the Greek text and the translation. Annotation. In the Greek literature of the imperial period, Lucian of Samosata is surely one of the most versatile and creative figures. Thanks to his Dialogues he became one of the most famous and appreciated ancient Greek authors, and his fame could only be compared toPlato or Plutarchs. Within Lucians works, Timon is referable to the authors maturity and it is considered to beone of the best and most typical dialogues. Its modern success is evidentthrough several translations (such as Erasmus of Rotterdams version) as well as a great number of works which are inspired by it (for example The Life of Timon of Athens by Shakespeare or The Misanthrope by Molière). The appeal of this Dialogue lies mainly in the protagonist, Timon of Athens, a genuine misanthropes archetype, a powerful and interesting figure, capable of fascinating until today Biographical note: Gianluigi Tomassi, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, Italy Introduzione, Traduzione E Commento, Gianluigi Tomassi. Includes Bibliography And Indices.