A Roman-era Greek work of literary criticism dated to the 1st century- C.E.. Its author is unknown, but is conventionally referred to as Longinus or Pseudo-Longinus. It is regarded as a classic work on aesthetics and the effects of good writing. The treatise highlights examples of good and bad writing from the previous millennium, focusing particularly on what may lead to the sublime.

The original treatise, before translation, was copied into a medieval manuscript and attributed to "Dionysius or Longinus" in the 10th century and on the 13th century, a Byzantine rhetorician made obscure references to what may be Longinus' text. The treatise was ignored by scholars until it was published by Francis Robortello in Basel, in 1554, and Niccolò da Falgano, in 1560. The original work is attributed to "Dionysius Longinus" and most European countries receive translations of the treatise.

First translation into vernacular language (French) of the Longinus's Greek text on the Sublime, by Nicolas Boileau-Despéaux was published in Paris and made known in all scholarly circles in Europe.