Dialogi deorum

Books

• Προμηθέως καὶ Διός

  Prometheus defends himself before Zeus for giving fire to mortals, arguing that without it humanity would have remained useless to the gods.

  16 lines
• Ἔρωτος καὶ Διός

  Eros and Zeus quarrel over the love-god's habit of making the king of the gods fall for inappropriate mortals.

  10 lines
• Διός καὶ Ἑρμοῦ

  Zeus and Hermes discuss the logistics of Zeus's latest affair, with the messenger god playing reluctant accomplice.

  7 lines
• Διός καὶ Γανυμήδους

  Zeus explains to Hermes how to divide the sacrificial offerings, revealing the gods' undignified squabbling over burnt meat.

  33 lines
• Ἥρας καὶ Διός

  Hera confronts Zeus about his infidelities, and the king of the gods offers excuses that convince neither his wife nor the reader.

  10 lines
• Ἥρας καὶ Διός

  Hephaestus asks Zeus about the birth of Athena from his head, and the smith god's practical questions deflate the mythology.

  18 lines
• Ἡφαίστου καὶ Ἀπόλλωνος

  Apollo and Dionysus compete over which divine art — music or wine — brings more joy to mortals.

  21 lines
• Ἡφαίστου καὶ Διός

  Hephaestus complains about his marital problems with Aphrodite, reducing the most scandalous myth on Olympus to a domestic comedy.

  10 lines
• Ποσειδῶνος καὶ Ἑρμοῦ

  Poseidon and Hermes discuss the gods' respective domains, with the sea god feeling underappreciated compared to his brothers.

  24 lines
• Ἑρμοῦ καὶ Ἡλίου

  Hermes and Apollo trade their respective inventions — the lyre for the cattle-herding staff — in a divine barter economy.

  9 lines
• Ἀφροδίτης καὶ Σελήνης

  Aphrodite and Selene gossip about mortal love affairs, with the love goddess dispensing advice that is as dangerous as it is entertaining.

  5 lines
• Ἀφροδίτης καὶ Ἔρωτος

  Aphrodite and Eros discuss strategy for their next romantic entanglement of mortals and gods.

  3 lines
• Διὸς καὶ Ἀσκληπιοῦ καὶ Ἡρακλέους

  Zeus warns his fellow gods about the consequences of their behaviour toward mortals, in a divine council that accomplishes nothing.

  9 lines
• Ἑρμοῦ καὶ Ἀπόλλωνος

  Hermes and Apollo discuss the burden of their divine duties, revealing that even gods suffer from professional fatigue.

  13 lines
• Ἑρμοῦ καὶ Ἀπόλλωνος

  The gods debate the admission of Heracles and Dionysus to Olympus, with Zeus pulling rank to settle the matter.

  10 lines
• Ἥρας καὶ Λητοῦς

  Hera and Leto quarrel over whose children are more impressive, with the divine mothers trading insults worthy of a schoolyard.

  6 lines
• Ἀπόλλωνος καὶ Ἑρμοῦ

  Apollo and Hermes reflect on the peculiar fate of mortals who become entangled with gods, rarely to their benefit.

  12 lines
• Ἥρας καὶ Διὸς

  Zeus and Ganymede, the Trojan prince snatched up to Olympus, settle into a conversation that Lucian makes deliberately uncomfortable.

  4 lines
• Ἀφροδίτης καὶ Ἔρωτος

  Aphrodite complains to Zeus about Athena's refusal to participate in the Judgement of Paris, citing unfair competition.

  11 lines
• Θεῶν κρίσις This is listed as a separate work, The Council of the Gods

  The Judgement of Paris itself, retold as a beauty contest managed by a bewildered Trojan shepherd and three vain goddesses.

  Not yet imported
• Ἄρεος καὶ Ἑρμοῦ

  Ares and Hermes discuss the indignity of being trapped in Hephaestus's net with Aphrodite, exposed to the laughter of all Olympus.

  4 lines
• Πανὸς καὶ Ἑρμοῦ

  Pan claims kinship with Hermes, and the messenger god squirms at acknowledging his goat-footed offspring.

  20 lines
• Ἀπόλλωνος καὶ Διονύσου

  Apollo mocks Dionysus for his effeminate appearance, and the wine god responds that his conquests in India outshine any plague-dealing archer.

  13 lines
• Ἑρμοῦ καὶ Μαίας

  Hermes and his mother Maia discuss the thankless life of Zeus's messenger, errand-runner, and all-purpose divine servant.

  5 lines
• Διὸς καὶ Ἡλίου

  Zeus calls a final assembly to address the disorder on Olympus, achieving the usual result: nothing.

  5 lines
• Ἀπόλλωνος καὶ Ἑρμοῦ

  Lucian's closing dialogue on divine affairs distills the satirist's central insight: the gods are simply humans with superpowers and even less self-awareness.

  9 lines