# 1st Longinus

## Biography

The individual referred to as "1st cent. Longinus" is the enigmatic author of *On the Sublime*, a highly influential work of Greek literary criticism from the 1st century CE. While his true identity remains unknown, scholars conventionally refer to him by this name, or as Pseudo-Longinus. His treatise explores the concept of "sublimity" in writing, defining it as "the echo of greatness of spirit" and detailing the moral and imaginative power innate in a writer that elevates their work.

Longinus's text, addressed to a Roman public figure named Postumius Terentianus, offers a compendium of literary exemplars, both good and bad, from the preceding millennium. He identifies five key sources of sublimity: great thoughts, strong emotions, certain figures of thought and speech, noble diction, and dignified word arrangement. *On the Sublime* significantly influenced literary theory for centuries, emphasizing the profound impact of elevated style and simplicity in effective communication.

## Books

- [On the Sublime](https://samolit.com/books/96266)