Tacitus’ Dialogus de oratoribus [Dialogue on Orators] is one of three so-called minor works (along with the Agricola and Germania) undertaken prior to his better known historical narratives, the Historiae and the Annales. The dating of the work is problematic, but probably belongs to between 100 and 102 (scholars base the date, in part, on the addressee, Fabius Justus, who held the consulship in 102). It takes as its literary exempla not only Ciceronian dialogues, but also appears closely modeled on Plato’s Symposium; as Plato’s renowned …
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Citation: Rutledge, Steven. "Dialogus de oratoribus". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 October 2006 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=19583, accessed 07 November 2024.]