Global InformationAltercatio Hadriani Augusti et Epicteti philosophi information
 15th-century illuminated manuscript, Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid | |
| Country | Ancient Rome |
|---|---|
| Language | Latin |
| Genre | Wisdom literature |
Publication date | 2nd or 3rd century |
| Text | Altercatio Hadriani Augusti et Epicteti philosophi at Wikisource |
The Altercatio Hadriani Augusti et Epicteti philosophi is a Latin language question-and-answer dialogue composed by an anonymous author in the 2nd or 3rd century. It consists of a short, fictional conversation between Emperor Hadrian and the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. In its earliest form it consists of seventy-three questions on matters of wisdom and natural phenomena posed by Hadrian and answered by Epictetus. The emphasis throughout is on witty, riddle-like answers rather than philosophical ones.
The work was a popular one throughout the Middle Ages and there were many Christianised adaptations including an Enfant Sage dialogue from France in which the conversation takes place between Hadrian and a three-year-old child called Epitus, and an Ypotis poem from England in which the child is revealed to be Christ.