Artemidorus

Artemidorus

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Artemidorus of Ephesus was a Greek philosopher and diviner who lived in the 2nd century AD. He is best known for his work Oneirocritica, a comprehensive treatise on dream interpretation. Artemidorus' work is one of the few surviving texts from antiquity that detail the practice of interpreting dreams, which was a common practice in the Greco-Roman world to gain insight into personal and public affairs.

Life

Little is known about the life of Artemidorus. He was born in Ephesus, a major city in ancient Asia Minor, and traveled extensively in Greece, Italy, and Asia, gathering material for his book on dream interpretation. His work suggests that he had a broad knowledge of the culture and practices of his time, which he incorporated into his interpretations of dreams.

Work

Artemidorus' Oneirocritica is a five-volume work that systematically categorizes dreams and their meanings. The first three books are dedicated to his son, providing a theoretical and practical guide to dream interpretation. The fourth book addresses dreams that are common to all people, and the fifth book deals with unique dreams specific to individuals.

In Oneirocritica, Artemidorus discusses various types of dreams and their potential meanings, emphasizing the context of the dreamer's life, including their profession, personal circumstances, and recent activities. He believed that dreams could be prophetic and that by interpreting them, one could potentially influence one's future.

Legacy

Artemidorus' work had a significant influence on later practices of dream interpretation in the Western tradition. His approach to dreams as messages with specific meanings influenced both contemporary and later thinkers in the fields of psychology and psychoanalysis, including Sigmund Freud.

See also

• Dream
• Ancient Greek philosophy
• Divination