Urbi et Orbi

The Greek inscription of the Epicurean Diogenes is the longest known from the ancient world and the only one to expound a complete system of philosophy. Its author, a wealthy citizen of the upland city of Oinoanda (southwest Turkey), set it up during the reign of Hadrian (117-138) to broadcast a mes...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Smith, Martin Ferguson
Format: Online
Language:English
Published: Gruppo editoriale Tab Srl 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/176319
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1869525537690484736
author Smith, Martin Ferguson
author_browse Smith, Martin Ferguson
author_facet Smith, Martin Ferguson
author_sort Smith, Martin Ferguson
collection Directory of Open Access Books
description The Greek inscription of the Epicurean Diogenes is the longest known from the ancient world and the only one to expound a complete system of philosophy. Its author, a wealthy citizen of the upland city of Oinoanda (southwest Turkey), set it up during the reign of Hadrian (117-138) to broadcast a message of moral healing and salvation urbi et orbi – to the city and the world. He addresses Oinoanda's citizens in his time and time to come, and also so-called foreigners, who, he says, are actually our fellow citizens in a world which is one country and home for humanity. Fragments of Diogenes' work were discovered in 1884-1889. Further investigations were inaugurated by Martin Ferguson Smith in 1968-1973 and continued during British and German-led surveys (1974-2017). The number of known pieces of the inscription more than tripled, from 88 in the 19th century to 305. This translation, the first in English to include all the latest discoveries and research, is intended for all who are interested in philosophy, in the intellectual and cultural history of the Greek world under the Roman Empire, and in the story of an impressive and moving human document. If it also benefits anyone in need of “the medicines of salvation”, so much the better. Diogenes’ message is addressed to us no less than to his contemporaries, and the Epicurean ethical ideal of ataraxia, “freedom from disturbance” or “tranquillity of mind”, achieved through the elimination of unnecessary fears and desires, is as relevant today as it was two millennia ago.
format Online
id doab-20.500.12854ir-176319
institution Directory of Open Access Books
language eng
publishDate 2026
publishDateRange 2026
publishDateSort 2026
publisher Gruppo editoriale Tab Srl
publisherStr Gruppo editoriale Tab Srl
record_format ojs
spelling doab-20.500.12854ir-1763192026-05-08T13:31:06Z Urbi et Orbi Smith, Martin Ferguson ancient philosophy QDHA The Greek inscription of the Epicurean Diogenes is the longest known from the ancient world and the only one to expound a complete system of philosophy. Its author, a wealthy citizen of the upland city of Oinoanda (southwest Turkey), set it up during the reign of Hadrian (117-138) to broadcast a message of moral healing and salvation urbi et orbi – to the city and the world. He addresses Oinoanda's citizens in his time and time to come, and also so-called foreigners, who, he says, are actually our fellow citizens in a world which is one country and home for humanity. Fragments of Diogenes' work were discovered in 1884-1889. Further investigations were inaugurated by Martin Ferguson Smith in 1968-1973 and continued during British and German-led surveys (1974-2017). The number of known pieces of the inscription more than tripled, from 88 in the 19th century to 305. This translation, the first in English to include all the latest discoveries and research, is intended for all who are interested in philosophy, in the intellectual and cultural history of the Greek world under the Roman Empire, and in the story of an impressive and moving human document. If it also benefits anyone in need of “the medicines of salvation”, so much the better. Diogenes’ message is addressed to us no less than to his contemporaries, and the Epicurean ethical ideal of ataraxia, “freedom from disturbance” or “tranquillity of mind”, achieved through the elimination of unnecessary fears and desires, is as relevant today as it was two millennia ago. Published The Greek inscription of the Epicurean Diogenes is the longest known from the ancient world and the only one to expound a complete system of philosophy. Its author, a wealthy citizen of the upland city of Oinoanda (southwest Turkey), set it up during the reign of Hadrian (117-138) to broadcast a message of moral healing and salvation urbi et orbi – to the city and the world. He addresses Oinoanda's citizens in his time and time to come, and also so-called foreigners, who, he says, are actually our fellow citizens in a world which is one country and home for humanity. Fragments of Diogenes' work were discovered in 1884-1889. Further investigations were inaugurated by Martin Ferguson Smith in 1968-1973 and continued during British and German-led surveys (1974-2017). The number of known pieces of the inscription more than tripled, from 88 in the 19th century to 305. This translation, the first in English to include all the latest discoveries and research, is intended for all who are interested in philosophy, in the intellectual and cultural history of the Greek world under the Roman Empire, and in the story of an impressive and moving human document. If it also benefits anyone in need of “the medicines of salvation”, so much the better. Diogenes’ message is addressed to us no less than to his contemporaries, and the Epicurean ethical ideal of ataraxia, “freedom from disturbance” or “tranquillity of mind”, achieved through the elimination of unnecessary fears and desires, is as relevant today as it was two millennia ago. 2026-05-08T13:31:04Z 2026-05-08T13:31:04Z 2026 book https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/176319 eng Doxai image/jpeg Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International https://www.tabedizioni.it/shop/product/urbi-et-orbi-2101 https://www.tabedizioni.it/web/content/462840 Gruppo editoriale Tab Srl tab edizioni The Greek inscription of the Epicurean Diogenes is the longest known from the ancient world and the only one to expound a complete system of philosophy. Its author, a wealthy citizen of the upland city of Oinoanda (southwest Turkey), set it up during the reign of Hadrian (117-138) to broadcast a message of moral healing and salvation urbi et orbi – to the city and the world. He addresses Oinoanda's citizens in his time and time to come, and also so-called foreigners, who, he says, are actually our fellow citizens in a world which is one country and home for humanity. Fragments of Diogenes' work were discovered in 1884-1889. Further investigations were inaugurated by Martin Ferguson Smith in 1968-1973 and continued during British and German-led surveys (1974-2017). The number of known pieces of the inscription more than tripled, from 88 in the 19th century to 305. This translation, the first in English to include all the latest discoveries and research, is intended for all who are interested in philosophy, in the intellectual and cultural history of the Greek world under the Roman Empire, and in the story of an impressive and moving human document. If it also benefits anyone in need of “the medicines of salvation”, so much the better. Diogenes’ message is addressed to us no less than to his contemporaries, and the Epicurean ethical ideal of ataraxia, “freedom from disturbance” or “tranquillity of mind”, achieved through the elimination of unnecessary fears and desires, is as relevant today as it was two millennia ago. 46cf43df-4a92-423b-831a-494f540f3abd tab edizioni 5 176 Rome open access
spellingShingle ancient philosophy
QDHA
Smith, Martin Ferguson
Urbi et Orbi
title Urbi et Orbi
title_full Urbi et Orbi
title_fullStr Urbi et Orbi
title_full_unstemmed Urbi et Orbi
title_short Urbi et Orbi
title_sort urbi et orbi
topic ancient philosophy
QDHA
topic_facet ancient philosophy
QDHA
url https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/176319
work_keys_str_mv AT smithmartinferguson urbietorbi