Artemidorus Ephesius of Ephesus was a philosopher or better to be called a fortuneteller from Ephesus. He lived around the second century AD. His masterpiece of works was a five volumes book called Oneirocritica. We can translate the word ”Oneirocritica” into modern English as ”The Interpretation of Dreams”. Artemidorus Ephesius spent several years travelling around Italy and Greece to learn about dream interpretation rituals. As we know he visited all 16 fortunetelling temples of Italy, Greece and his home country of Asia Minor.
Who Was Artemidorus Ephesius?
Artemidorus Ephesius was born in Ephesus, and he wrote the oldest Greek book about dreams that survives. Many people also call him Artemidorus of Daldis. Daldis was a small town in Lydia, the home of his mother, and he put its name on his book to make it known to everybody.
How Did Artemidorus Study Dreams?
Artemidorus studied dreams by collecting them, not by guessing. He says he bought every book about dreams he could find, and it took a lot of effort. Then he spent many years with the public diviners, who read dreams for ordinary people. He followed them through the cities and festivals of Greece, Asia Minor and Italy, even on the biggest islands, to hear about old dreams and how they ended. He made a great job with this research.
He also made fun of the writers before him, who mostly copied each other. His own rule was to look at the dreamer, not only at the dream.
He tells about a man who dreamed three times that he lost his nose. First the man was a perfume seller, and the dream meant losing his shop. Then it meant losing his good name, and at last it meant death, when he was sick. Same dream, three different results. I wrote about the five volumes in my post Oneirocritica by Artemidorus Ephesius.
The Other Artemidorus of Ephesus, the Geographer
Do not mix him up with another man from Ephesus who had almost the same name. The geographer Artemidorus lived about 100 BC, more than two centuries earlier. He wrote a big work on geography in eleven books and sailed along the coasts of the Mediterranean. It is said that he also visited Spain and Gaul.
His own books are lost, we know them only from pieces that later writers copied. So when you read about Artemidorus of Ephesus, check which of the two it is.
Why Is Ephesus Proud of Artemidorus?
Ephesus gave the ancient world many thinkers and writers, like Heraclitus and Hipponax, and Artemidorus is one of them. His book is the oldest dream book in Greek that we still have. The first three volumes were translated into Arabic as early as 877 AD, and today you can read it in many modern languages.
The Library of Celsus was built early in the 2nd century, the century of Artemidorus, so Ephesus was a city of books in his time. I like to tell my guests about him when we stand in front of the library.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Oneirocritica mean?
Oneirocritica comes from oneiros, the Greek word for dream. The title is usually translated as The Interpretation of Dreams. Artemidorus wrote it as a practical manual for diviners and for ordinary readers.
Was Artemidorus from Ephesus or from Daldis?
He was born in Ephesus. He added Daldianus, “of Daldis”, to honor his mother’s small hometown in Lydia. That is why you find him as Artemidorus Ephesius, Artemidorus of Ephesus and Artemidorus of Daldis.
Can I read the Oneirocritica in English?
Yes. There are modern English translations of whole work, and the first three volumes were already translated into Arabic in 877 AD. Check that the book you buy has all five volumes.
