On the Sublime - Classic Text | Alexandria
On the Sublime (Περὶ ὕψους, Peri Hypsous), traditionally attributed to Pseudo-Longinus, stands as one of antiquity's most influential and enigmatic literary treatises. This first-century CE work, whose true authorship remains contested, presents a sophisticated analysis of the sublime in rhetoric and literature, defining it as that which elevates discourse beyond mere persuasion to achieve transcendent emotional and intellectual impact.
The text first emerged in the manuscript tradition during the 10th century CE, though internal evidence suggests composition during the Augustan or early Imperial period. Its attribution to "Longinus" stems from a manuscript inscription, but scholarly consensus now questions this identification, hence the prefix "Pseudo-." The work's historical context spans a period of intense rhetorical innovation and cultural exchange between Greek and Roman intellectual traditions, reflecting both Hellenistic literary criticism and emerging Roman aesthetic sensibilities.
The treatise's exploration of sublimity revolutionized literary criticism, identifying five sources of the sublime: great thoughts, strong emotions, effective use of figures, noble diction, and dignified word arrangement. Its analysis of authors from Homer to Sappho, and its famous comparison of the Iliad to the Odyssey, established enduring paradigms for literary evaluation. The work's influence reached its apex during the 18th-century European Enlightenment, when Nicolas Boileau's 1674 French translation sparked renewed interest in aesthetic theory and profoundly influenced Romantic conceptions of artistic genius and emotional authenticity.
Today, On the Sublime continues to intrigue scholars and critics with its sophisticated psychological insights and its remarkably modern approach to literary analysis. Its anonymous authorship and complex transmission history add layers of mystery to its already compelling content. The text's enduring relevance lies in its exploration of how language can transcend ordinary expression to achieve lasting emotional and intellectual impact, a question that remains central to contemporary discussions of literature, rhetoric, and artistic expression. As modern readers grapple with questions of authenticity, authority, and the power of language, Pseudo-Longinus's ancient insights offer surprisingly fresh perspectives on these perennial concerns.