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Work

On the E at Delphi

Plutarch

On the E at Delphi observes character in action and tests moral rules against concrete situations.

Composition
late 1st to early 2nd century CE; internal order uncertain
Sources and precision

The range locates Plutarch’s literary activity without inventing a composition year for each work.

Confidence C · probable range

Period
Antiquity
Languages
Ancient Greek · English · French
Extent
21 passages · 6,799 words

Before reading

What you will learn

To read On the E at Delphi, isolate the decisive action, distinguish character from fortune, then compare its consequence with that of a neighboring course of conduct.

Short summary

On the E at Delphi observes character in action and tests moral rules against concrete situations.

Long summary

The dialogue sets several voices against one another without turning every utterance into Plutarch’s personal doctrine. Setting, speakers, and the inquiry’s progression are part of the evidence.

Canonical identity follows the critical Greek CTS divisions. The historical English translation and AI-generated French remain distinct, labeled manifestations.

Inside this work

The table of contents follows the divisions actually carried by the corpus.

Work › Section

  1. Section 1
  2. Section 2
  3. Section 3
  4. Section 4
  5. Section 5
  6. Section 6
  7. Section 7
  8. Section 8
  9. Section 9
  10. Section 10
  11. Section 11
  12. Section 12
  13. Section 13
  14. Section 14
  15. Section 15
  16. Section 16
  17. Section 17
  18. Section 18
  19. Section 19
  20. Section 20
  21. Section 21

Concepts covered

Historical context

The world around the text

The corpus manifests do not yet establish the precise place and circumstances of composition. The images below document the author’s world or the text’s transmission. They do not claim to show the exact scene of writing.

These are modern reconstructions. They situate a documented place, practice, or transmission and are not period documents.

Modern reconstruction of Conversation at Chaeronea for On the E at Delphi on Prokopton42.com
Conversation at ChaeroneaA modern interpretation of Plutarch in the documented context titled “Conversation at Chaeronea”, set around c. 100 CE.Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Plutarch
Modern reconstruction of Nearby historical landmark, 27 BCE for On the E at Delphi on Prokopton42.com
Nearby historical landmark, 27 BCEOctavian becomes Augustus. The Roman Republic gives way to the Principate. The image situates On the E at Delphi without claiming to show its scene of composition.
Modern reconstruction of Nearby historical landmark, 431–404 BCE for On the E at Delphi on Prokopton42.com
Nearby historical landmark, 431–404 BCEThe Peloponnesian War exhausts Athens, Sparta and their allies. The image situates On the E at Delphi without claiming to show its scene of composition.

What the world looked like

World of 1989

Modern reconstruction of the material world around On the E at Delphi: Technology, science, and care
Technology, science, and carePersonal computers, satellites, video, industrial robots, and expensive mobile phones exist, but the public Web does not yet. Computing, genetics, climate science, cosmology, and medical imaging produce growing data and international collaboration. CT, MRI, transplantation, vaccines, and intensive care advance; the AIDS epidemic exposes both medical capacity and its limits.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around On the E at Delphi: Travel and communication
Travel and communicationCars, high-speed rail, metros, aircraft, and containers globalize people and goods. Fixed telephones, fax, television, radio, and newspapers predominate. Email and computer networks remain mainly professional or academic.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around On the E at Delphi: Farming and food
Farming and foodMachinery, chemical inputs, breeding, and cold chains support high yields with increasingly debated social and environmental costs.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around On the E at Delphi: Clothing, women and men
Clothing, women and menLoose suits, jeans, trainers, women’s power suits, sportswear, and urban subcultures create highly varied silhouettes.
State of technology
Personal computers, satellites, video, industrial robots, and expensive mobile phones exist, but the public Web does not yet.
Science and knowledge
Computing, genetics, climate science, cosmology, and medical imaging produce growing data and international collaboration.
Medicine and care
CT, MRI, transplantation, vaccines, and intensive care advance; the AIDS epidemic exposes both medical capacity and its limits.
Transport
Cars, high-speed rail, metros, aircraft, and containers globalize people and goods.
Agriculture and food
Machinery, chemical inputs, breeding, and cold chains support high yields with increasingly debated social and environmental costs.
Communication
Fixed telephones, fax, television, radio, and newspapers predominate. Email and computer networks remain mainly professional or academic.
Clothing and fashion
Loose suits, jeans, trainers, women’s power suits, sportswear, and urban subcultures create highly varied silhouettes.

Editions, translations, and provenance

The following carriers represent the text. They do not create new passage identities.

  • Ancient Greekcomplete_aligned_work
  • Englishcomplete_aligned_work
  • French AI-generated translation, non-officialCodex gpt-5.6-sol · Non-official working translation · 2026-09-13

Source manifests: plutarch.e_at_delphi

Reader

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On the E at DelphiPlutarch

Before reading

What you will learn

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