Lucian

lu'shi-an, a Greek satirist of the second century. He was a native of Samosata, Syria. He studied law and rhetoric and traveled through many countries lecturing. His writings include poems, romances, and dialogues, as well as critical works and biographies. Many of his writings are preserved, the best known among them being Dialogues of the Dead and Dialogues of the Gods. Lucian was a freethinker. He made religion an object of ridicule, and thereby won the nickname of "The Blasphemer." A current legend, but one without foundation, was that he was torn to pieces by dogs--a just punishment, it is to be supposed, for his blasphemy.