Lucian was a 2nd century AD writer. He is widely know as the father of the satirical dialogue. This work
will focus mainly on his work titled "Dialogues of the Dead".

Before going any further, a bit of background information on Greek views on death may be useful. The image on this page is a sketch of Charon, ferryman of the River Styx. Charon was to be paid for transporting shades (the dead) to their judgement. For this reason, proper Greek burial often included placing an obol on the tongue of the deceased, to aid them in their journey to the underworld.

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  • Lucian
  • Satirical Dialogues
  • Dialogues of the Dead
  • Specific Characters
  • References Used