EN
The paper investigates the complex interrelationship between philosophy and poetry as it was presented by Heraclitus the Allegorist in the famous ‘Quaestiones Homericae’. It is shown here that the apology of Homer which emerges from the treaty builds on two fundamental assumptions. First of all, the Allegorist aims to prove that Homer’s poems ought to be read as intentionally composed allegories that actually prefigure all subsequent philosophical and scientific views. Secondly, Heraclitus argues also that Homer had to have recourse to allegory, since it is the only appropriate mode of expressing certain ideas. Consequently, Homer transpires to be not only the greatest poet if ancient Greece, but also its greatest philosopher.