South western Asia,
Few details of Lucian's life can be verified with any degree of accuracy.
He claimed to have been born in Samosata, in the former kingdom of Commagene,
which had been absorbed by the Roman Empire and made part of the
province of Syria. In his works, Lucian refers to himself as a
"Syrian," "Assyrian" and "barbarian", perhaps indicating "he was from the Semitic and not the imported Greek population" of Samosata. His birthplace was recently lost when the Atatürk Dam project led to the inundation of the site.
I have to say upon reading this and other of his works, he really did
have a terrible sense of humour. A bit of a rogue as well. Some works
say he was Armenian, but Turkey seems to be there and Assyrian. I found
more Armenian, so to me that is what I shall stick with..
He claimed to have been born in Samosata, in the former kingdom of Commagene,
which had been absorbed by the Roman Empire and made part of the
province of Syria. In his works, Lucian refers to himself as a
"Syrian," "Assyrian" and "barbarian", perhaps indicating "he was from the Semitic and not the imported Greek population" of Samosata. His birthplace was recently lost when the Atatürk Dam project led to the inundation of the site.
I have to say upon reading this and other of his works, he really did
have a terrible sense of humour. A bit of a rogue as well. Some works
say he was Armenian, but Turkey seems to be there and Assyrian. I found
more Armenian, so to me that is what I shall stick with..
INSIDE A WHALE
A very fishy story by an ancient writer with a lively imagination
A very fishy story by an ancient writer with a lively imagination
LUCIAN OF SAMOSATA
( 120 AD - 170 AD approx)
When we had made only two days' sail in the water,
as soon as the third day appeared, about sunrising, upon a sudden we saw many monstrous fishes and whales; but one above the rest containing in greatness fifteen hundred furlongs, which came gaping upon us and troubled the sea round about him, so that he was compassed on every side with froth and foam, showing his teeth afar off, which were longer than any beech trees are with us, all as sharp as needles, and as white as ivory; then we took, as we thought, our last leave of one another, and embracing together, excepting our ending day.
When we had made only two days' sail in the water,
as soon as the third day appeared, about sunrising, upon a sudden we saw many monstrous fishes and whales; but one above the rest containing in greatness fifteen hundred furlongs, which came gaping upon us and troubled the sea round about him, so that he was compassed on every side with froth and foam, showing his teeth afar off, which were longer than any beech trees are with us, all as sharp as needles, and as white as ivory; then we took, as we thought, our last leave of one another, and embracing together, excepting our ending day.
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