Astramsychi & nicephori versus etiam oneirocritici (offered with) Freud for beginners

Paris; New York: Marcum Orry; Pantheon Books, 1979. FIRST COLLECTED EDITION. General title printed in red and black, text printed in Latin and Greek. Beautiful contemporary red russia, covers with double-gilt, author and title in gilt on spine; interior fine. First collected edition. Oneirocritica (The interpretation of dreams) is an ancient Greek treatise on dream interpretation written by Artemidorus in the 2nd century AD. The first three of five books, intended for the general public, provide an encyclopedic treatment of the subject matter of dreams, which are themselves divided into various groups. The first is dedicated to the anatomy and activity of the human body, interpreting drams of head size, eating and sexual activity. The second treats objects and events in the natural world such as animals, weather and sea creatures. The third book takes into account other dreamed events, while the remaining two books were written for the private use of the author’s son, a novice dream interpreter, which was a thing in those early days (remember Joseph!). Apparently dream interpreters need to know the full background of the dreamer and how the subject feels about each component of the dream. A number of examples are provided for practice.

Artemidorus suggests that dreams are unique to each individual, and that a person's waking life will affect the symbols in dreams. He shows awareness of the dreaming mind’s capacity to use metaphors in its messages.

Freud included two German translations in the bibliography to his Traumdeutung, including one devoted to the dreams with erotic significance. Freud also discusses the work in the historical introduction to Die Traumdeutung.