pseudepigraphical literature

Antiquity has left us a number of writings which evidence, internal or external, proves not to be the work of the authors whose names are traditionally attached to them. The causes of this include:

• (a) a tendency to ascribe anonymous pieces to a well‐known author of like genre. Thus, the whole Epic Cycle and other hexameter poems were at one time or another ascribed to Homer.
• (b) Works by the followers of a philosopher tended to be credited to their master; e.g. several short dialogues by members of the Academy bear the name of Plato.
• (c) Rhetorical exercises in the form of speeches, letters, etc., supposed to be by well‐known persons, now and then were taken for their real works. The Epistles of Phalaris are the most notorious work of this kind, thanks to Bentley's exposure of them.
• (d) But the most frequent cases are of late date and connected with the craze for producing evidence of the doctrine one favoured being of great age. The numerous Neopythagorean treatises are regularly attached to the names of prominent early Pythagoreans, including Pythagoras himself, despite the tradition that he wrote nothing. The Sibylline oracles (see sibyl) are an outstanding instance of this.