intro
So much for the dramatic date. There is no reason at all for Hirzel’s assertion r Dialog, ii, p. 184, n. 1. that this and the date of composition coincide. Certain striking similarities between the Facie and the Defectu Oraculorum have often been observed, but from these can be drawn equally cogent — and equally hypothetical — arguments for the priority of either to the otherM. Adler (Diss. Phil. Vind. x, pp. 115-116) contends that in the Defectu Plutarch excerpts the Facie; but see Raingeard, p. xxviii of his edition of Facie.; and, since in any case the date of the Defectu is uncertain,Ziegler, Plutarchos von Chaironeia, 76, gives about 100 as the date; but cf. Flaceliére, Plutarque: Sur la Disparition des Oracles, note 4 and pp. 13-17. the relative chronology of the two if established would not determine the date of the Facie.
