Tales of Two Lives in Xenophon’s “Hiero”, Plutarch’s “Gryllos”, and Lucian’s “Cock”
Tales of Two Lives in Xenophon’s “Hiero”, Plutarch’s “Gryllos”, and Lucian’s “Cock”
Abstract
The contribution examines structural and thematic parallels between three dialogic texts: Xenophon’s “Hiero”, Plutarch’s “Gryllos”, and Lucian’s “Cock”. It argues that in addition to Lucian’s dependence on Plutarch, already pointed out by scholars, both “Gryllos” and “Cock” engage with Xenophon’s “Hiero”. In all three texts a synkrisis of two types of lives, performed by an interlocutor correcting an erroneous view of his conversant, plays an important role; there is also overlap in categories around which the comparison is structured, and, occasionally, verbal reminiscences.