Pitfalls of Pseudepigraphy

The main argument of this paper is that the extent to which it has been demonstrated that the Rhetorica ad Herennium was not written by Cicero is more questionable than is currently acknowledged. By revisiting the arguments that have been launched against the text's authenticity, which involve the alleged demolition of several pieces of ancient evidence in favor of Ciceronian authorship and assertions about Ciceronian and un-Ciceronian style, this paper suggests that the conclusions based on these arguments are hypothetical at best. To account for the undeniable success that these arguments nonetheless enjoy, the paper closes with some reflections on value, the idea of authenticity, and the pitfalls of pseudepigraphy.