Artemidorus

Ephesian soothsayer

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Quick Facts

Flourished:: 3rd century ad, Ephesus, Roman Asia [now in Turkey]

Flourished:: c.101 - c.200

Subjects Of Study:: oneiromancy

See all related content

Artemidorus (flourished 3rd century ad, Ephesus, Roman Asia [now in Turkey]) was a soothsayer whose Oneirocritica (“Interpretation of Dreams”) affords valuable insight into ancient superstitions, myths, and religious rites. Mainly a compilation of the writings of earlier authors, the work’s first three books consider dreams and divination generally; a reply to critics and an appendix make up the fourth book. He was reputed to have written books on interpreting bird signs and palm reading, but they have been lost.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.