Galen, Rhetoric, and the Second Sophistic

Abstract This chapter reviews the place of Galen in the context of imperial literature and the so-called Second Sophistic in the wake of recent debates on the nature and periodization of the latter. In contrast to previous studies on Galen and the Second Sophistic (which tend to focus on performance and competition), this chapter specifically emphasizes Galen’s rhetoric, the deep literary roots of his prose, and its many connections with contemporary writings of varying genres. Although the very concept of the “Second Sophistic” is not without problems, it is still a useful tool to illuminate Galen’s profound anchoring within the literary and philosophical trends of his time.