Samsat hosts philosophy festival dedicated to Lucian of Samosata

The Samsatlı Lukianos Philosophy Days will commence on October 31 at the Samsat Multi-Program Anatolian High School Conference Hall. Organized by the Samsatlı Lukianos Philosophy Platform with support from the Samsat Municipality, the event features two sessions dedicated to exploring the historical, philosophical, and critical impact of the ancient satirist and rhetorician Lucian of Samosata.

The first session, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Türkan, will cover topics such as Lucian’s approach to history, philosophy, and criticism, as well as his critiques of Ancient Greek thought and the importance of myths in his texts. The second session will focus on ethics, truth, and satire, including discussions on whether Lucian was a Sophist and his views on morality and irony.

In a related academic discussion, Prof. Dr. Dalyan addressed the linguistic naming of the philosopher. Dalyan noted that while various transliterations exist globally, the term ‘Samsatlı Lukianos’ is the established form in Turkish academic literature and official local publications. He argued that using ‘Lukiano’—likely influenced by Italian or Spanish forms—is philologically problematic compared to the established ‘Lukianos’ or the more linguistically appropriate ‘Samsatlı’ to reflect his birthplace, Samosata.