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Altercacion, dialogue de l'Empereur Adrian et du Philosophe Epictete

Jean de Coras (translator)

A French printing of the medieval legend of a dialogue between Emperor Hadrian and Epictetus, told as a series of questions and answers.

A legendary dialogue built around Epictetus's reputed relationship with Emperor Hadrian, showing his later popular fame.

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Scan of the inside cover or flyleaf of a book, grey and aged, with an oval library stamp reading 'Bibliotheque de la Ville de Poitiers' and 'D 3463' at top left, and handwritten shelfmark 'v. 33.' and 'in 8°' in the centre. No title page text is visible.
Jean de Coras (trans.), Altercacion, dialogue de l'Empereur Adrian et du Philosophe Epictete.

About this source

What it is

This is a French translation, by Jean de Coras, of a medieval dialogue imagining a question-and-answer exchange between the Roman emperor Hadrian and the philosopher Epictetus. The surviving copy is held with a library stamp from Poitiers.

Why it matters

This text is not a historical record but a popular legend that grew up around Epictetus's reputed friendship with Hadrian. It shows how later generations imagined and retold stories about famous philosophers, turning them into figures of folk wisdom long after their deaths.

Look closer

  • What does the existence of this legend suggest about Epictetus's later reputation, long after his lifetime?
  • Why might people invent a dialogue between a philosopher and an emperor rather than record real history?
  • How can legends like this both preserve and distort the memory of a real person?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Epictetus on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page and opening of Chapter I of the Enchiridion of Epictetus, a 1683 edition with Greek and Latin text in two columns, a decorated initial letter, and Latin commentary below.Book

Secondary source

Enchiridion of Epictetus

Arrian · early 2nd century AD (this edition 1683)

A photographed page of an ancient Greek manuscript on aged, yellowed parchment with brownish edges. Dense lines of handwritten Greek script fill the page, with a large dark brown stain in the center obscuring part of the text. A small circular library stamp appears on the right side, and a marginal number is visible at the upper right. Some marginal notes are written at the lower right.Book

Secondary source

Discourses of Epictetus

Arrian · c. 108 AD

A photographed page of an old handwritten Greek manuscript on yellowed, worn parchment. The dense brown-black lines of script are written in a cursive hand, with a large dark stain in the middle obscuring part of the text. A circular library stamp is visible at the upper right and another near the bottom. Faded marginal notes appear on the right side.Document

Secondary source

Codex Bodleianus

c. 11th-12th century

Title page of a 1558 Latin and Greek edition of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, printed in Zurich by Andreas Gesner. The page lists Xylander as translator and includes a second title for Marinus' Life of Proclus.Book

Primary source

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius · c. 170-180 AD (this edition printed 1558)

Plain dark red-brown leather book cover with mottled texture, faded lighter streaks and worn spots, and no visible title or text. Likely the binding of an antique book.Book

Secondary source

Commentary on the Enchiridion of Epictetus

Simplicius of Cilicia · c. 530s AD

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