Hermogenes of Tarsus (Greek: Ἑρμογένης ὁ Ταρσεύς) was a Greek rhetorician, surnamed the polisher (Greek Ξυστήρ). 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:
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.[2]
In the Renaissance the famous publisher, book- and type designer Aldus Manutius introduced the Hermogenean 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.
Michel Patillon has translated the entire Hermogenic corpus into French, with copious annotations.[3] Malcolm Heath has translated On Issues (Greek Περὶ στάσεων) into English,[4] and Cecil W. Wooten has translated On Types of Style (Greek Περὶ ἰδεῶν into English.[5] A Dutch translation of Peri Ideon appeared in late 2006.
Mikael Johansson has tried to apply the unique rhetorical schemes of Hermogenes on some of the declamations of Libanius.[6]
Annabel Patterson wrote a book about Hermogenean style, rhetorical categories, and its influence on Renaissance writers, such as Shakespeare. Hugh Blair also mentions Hermogenes in his work on rhetoric.