Pseudepigraphy

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Pseudepigrapha (Greek pseudos = "false", "epi" = "after, later" and grapha = "writing (or 'writings')", latterly or falsely attributed, or down right forged works, describes texts whose claimed authorship is unfounded in actuality. Typically, writers have employed the technique of publicly ascribing a false authoriship other than their own to a well-known figure so as to attain greater interest or credibility for their work. The authenticity or value of the work itself, which is a separate question for experienced readers, often becomes sentimentally entangled in association. For instance, few Hebrew scholars would insist that the Song of Solomon was written by the king of Israel, or ascribe the Book of Enoch to the prophet Enoch, and few Christian scholars would insist today that the Second Epistle of John was written by St. John. Nevertheless, in some cases, especially for books belonging to a religious canon, the question of whether a text is pseudepigraphical elicits sensations of loyalty and can become a matter of heavy dispute: though the inherent value of the text may not be called in question, the weight of a revered or even apostolic author lends authority to a text. This is the essential motivation for pseudepigraphy in the first place.

Related Topics:
Greek - Authorship - Hebrew - Song of Solomon - Book of Enoch - Enoch - Christian - Second Epistle of John - St. John - Canon

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Pseudepigraphy also covers the false ascription of names of authors to works, even to perfectly authentic works that make no such claim within their text. Thus a widely accepted but incorrect attribution of authorship may make a perfectly authentic text pseudepigraphical.

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On a related note, a famous name assumed by the author of a work is an allonym.

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These at least are the basic and original meanings of the terms.

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There have probably been pseudepigrapha almost from the invention of full writing. For example ancient Greek authors often refer to texts which claimed to be by Orpheus or his pupil Musaeus but which attributions were generally disregarded.

Related Topics:
The invention of full writing - Greek - Orpheus - Musaeus

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