Lucian, the humorous satirist, was a native of Samosata, in Syria, and flourished towards the end of the second century. In early life he was a sculptor, but later applied himself to the study of literature and philosophy. He was an extensive traveler, and seems to have traversed Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, and Gaul, teaching and studying human nature. After having amassed wealth as a wandering sophist, he settled down in Athens, when about forty years of age, and devoted himself to those satirical and humorous works which have made his name famous. - The Delphian Society, 1913