The eponymous hero, on his way to a
Christianfair at
Thessalonica, is unexpectedly taken to
Hades, which is ruled by
pagan figures and pagan justice (including the emperor
Theophilos as a judge), and where "
Galilæans" (that is,
Christians) make up only one
sect (αἵρεσις) of many.
In one scene, a eunuch whose face "shines like the sun" whispers in Timarion's ear. His companion Theodore says it's his guardian angel.
Edition and translation
R. Romano, "Pseudo-Luciano, Timarione", in Byzantina et neo-hellenica neapolitana 2.
Naples:
Università di Napoli. Cattedra di filologia bizantina, 1974; pp. 49-92.
Kaldellis, A., Hellenism in Byzantium: The Transformations of Greek Identity and the Reception of the Classical Tradition.
Cambridge:
CUP, 2008; pp. 276-283.
Ejusdem, "The Timarion: Toward a Literary Interpretation", in
P. Odorico (ed.), La face cachée de la littérature Byzantine: Le texte en tant que message immédiat.
Paris:
École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Centre d’études Byzantines, néo-helléniques et sud-est européennes (Dossiers byzantins, vol. 7, forthcoming).