Hermogenes of Tarsus

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Hermogenes of Tarsus (Greek: Ἑρμογένης του Ταρσεύς) was a Greek rhetorician, surnamed the polisher (Greek Χυστήρ). He flourished in the reign of Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180).

His precocious ability secured him a public appointment as teacher of his art while he was only a boy, attracting the note of the emperor himself; but at the age of twenty-five his faculties gave way, and he spent the remainder of his long life in a state of intellectual impotence.^[1] According to legend, he probably fell victim to a disease which resulted in meningitis, such as measles or yersinia. Philostratus of Lemnos notes he continued in this pitiable state until dying at an advanced age. The Suda records a rumor that after his death his heart was found to be enormous and covered in hair.^[1]

During his early years, however, he had composed a series of rhetorical treatises, which became popular text-books, and the subject of subsequent commentaries. We still possess some sections:

on legal issues
on the invention of arguments
on various kinds of style
on the method of speaking effectively
on rhetorical exercises.

Translation from Greek of the entire Hermogenic corpus is found in M. Patillon^[2]. M Johansson has tried to apply the unique rhetorical schemes of Hermogenes on some of the declamations of Libanius.^[3]

Several English translations have become available; the book Peri staseon (Greek Περὶ στάσεων, On Issues) has been translated by Malcolm Heath, and was published by Clarendon Press, Oxford. The book Peri Ideon (Greek Περὶ ἰδεῶν, About types [of style]) was translated by Cecil W. Wooten and published by the University of North-Carolina. Pattilon's rich translation with many notes is superior to the English translations. A Dutch translation of Peri Ideon appeared in late 2006.

Anne Patterson of Princeton University has written a book about Hermogean style, rhetorical categories, and its influence on renaissance writers, such as Shakespeare. Hugh Blair mentions Hermogenes in his work on rhetoric, just as Erasmus.

In the renaissance the famous publisher, book- and type designer Aldus Manutius introduced the Hermogean rhetorical corpus to the Western European reader. The works of Hermogenes appeared in the Aldine series. The 19th century Hugo Rabe edition of the Opera Hermogenis, with Latin introduction, is based upon various editions, a.o. the Aldine edition.

There seems to have been yet another Hermogenes of Tarsus, remembered for being put to death by Emperor Domitian because of some allusions in his History.^[4]