Written between 60 and 30 bc, diodorus siculus library of history relates significant topics in world history. Diodoros sikeliotes was a greek historian, who wrote works of history between 60 and 30 bc. He came to rome in the middle of the first century b. Though also including in the early books studies of topography, zoology, ethnography, and paradoxography, he considers the first six books devoted primarily to the recitation of myth and legend prior to the trojan war.
Translation and commentary, diodorus siculus bibliotheke book 12. Books 34 and 35 of diodorus siculus historical library, translated into english. He is known for writing the universal history bibliotheca historica, much of which survives, between 60 and 30 bc. Books by diodorus siculus author of library of history. Contents of the sixteenth book of diodorus chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4 chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 chapter 8 chapter 9 chapter 10 chapter 11 chapter 12 chapter chapter 14 chapter 15 chapter 16 chapter 17 chapter 18 chapter 19 chapter 20 chapter 21 chapter. Even so, diodorus siculus or diodoros siculos to his greek contemporaries, left a wealth of writings which have added to our knowledge of sicily and the eastern mediterranean during the roman age. The greek historian diodorus siculus composed the monumental universal history bibliotheca historica, which comprises the mythic history of the nonhellenic and hellenic tribes. Diodorus was a pioneering logician, and the most celebrated member of the dialectical school of the 4 th 3 rd c. Diodorus says that the socalled marsic war which happened in his lifetime was greater than all previous wars. Fully preserved are books iv and xixx, which cover egyptian, mesopotamian, indian, scythian, arabian, and north african history and parts of greek and roman history.
For this narrative he summarized, however incompetently, the work of earlier and greater historians whose original texts are lost to us. Ancient history, history, early works to 1800, world history, kings and. The present article adds a conspectus of diodoruss other ideas. For long stretches of greek history in the classical period, diodorus siculus provides the only surviving continuous narrative of events. Asdrubal, the gaulish uprising, and the second punic war book xxv.
Diodorus siculus or diodorus of sicily was a greek historian. Pdf diodorus and the chronology of the third diadoch war. Diodorus siculus, library, book xvi, contents of the. Ursinus, volume 1 volume 1 of the historical library of diodorus the sicilian, in fifteen books, diodorus siculus. This makes diodorus an invaluable quarry for the historian and the historiographer alike, but one that can be used only. The ancient greek historian diodorus wrote much of the history of macedonia from the times of philip ii and alexander the great up to the last macedonian king perseus. Diodorus of sicily loeb classical library volume 12 of diodorus of sicily in twelve volumes, charles henry oldfather diodorus of sicily, charles henry oldfather volume 12 of diodorus of sicily. We have two main sources for the events at saticula and at lautulae, one provided by livy and the other by diodorus siculus. Diodorus siculus author of library of history, volume i. In the prooemium to book i, diodorus announces that he will begin thebibliothekewith a systematic treatment of the mythologies of the world i 3. Arguing for a thorough critical reappraisal of diodorus as a minor but far from idiotic historian himself, peter green published diodorus siculus, books 1112. A historical commentary on diodorus siculus, book 15 p. Contents of the thirteenth book of diodorus chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4 chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 chapter 8 chapter 9 chapter 10 chapter 11 chapter 12 chapter chapter 14 chapter 15 chapter 16 chapter 17 chapter 18 chapter 19 chapter 20 chapter 21 chapter.
See table of contents for some information about how this translation has been produced, and key to translations for an explanation of the format. Hecataeus excursus apud diodorus siculus, bibliotheca historica 40. To which are added the fragments of diodorus, and those published by h. Lacuscurtius diodorus siculus book xix chapters 10. The primary sources of alexander that we now have were written during the zenith of the roman empire. Jaxon saunders history 499 senior thesis june, 2011. His work has been characterised as uncritical but we are reasonably certain of some details. Diodorus siculus describes a great seismic upheaval in 1250 bc which caused radical topographical changes from the gulf of gabes to the atlantic. The myth of alexander hist 225 fall 2011 sources for knowing alex lost historians callisthenes of olynthus nephew of aristotle 360328 bce nearchus served on campaign 360300 bce cleitarchus official campaign historian wrote for ptolemy i soter extant historians diodorus siculus, book 17 c.
It consisted of forty books, which were divided into three sections. The marsic war took its name from the leaders of the defection, although the italians in general made this war upon the romans. In this extensive work, diodorus writes about the mythological history of people groups, including the cultures of ancient egypt, mesopotamia, india, scythia, arabia, north africa, greece, and europe. Of this we have complete books iv egyptians, assyrians, ethiopians, greeks and books xixx greek history 480. Diodoros sikeliotes or diodorus of sicily was a greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history bibliotheca historica, much of which survives, between 60 and 30 bc. The siege of saticula 316 315 bc was a roman success that marked the resumption of hostilities in the second samnite war after a short period of truce. Now india is foursided in shape and the side which faces east and that which faces south are em braced by the great sea.
Diodorus siculus, greek historian of agyrium in sicily, ca. Diodorus siculus simple english wikipedia, the free. Diodorus sicily english translation c h oldfather, used. Diodorus siculuss most popular book is library of history, volume i. In book iv, diodorus discusses the history of the argonauts in rationalizing style. Diodorus siculus, greek historian, the author of a universal history, bibliotheke library. It is arranged geographically, describing regions around the world including egypt, india, arabia, greece and europe. Index page to greek text and translation of diodorus siculus, books 33 40. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Hecataeus of abdera and jewish misanthropy openedition journals. The writers of alexanders historian were roman citizens. Author of bibliotheca historica, diodorus of sicily, diodorus siculus, bibliothecae historicae libri qui supersunt, e recensione petri wesselingii, cum interpretatione latina laur. Diodorus siculus and the first century by kenneth s.
Diodorus siculus, library, book xiii, contents of the. According to diodorus own work, he was born at agyrium in sicily now called agira. Diodorus cronus stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Lacuscurtius diodorus siculus book xix chapters 66. Diodorus siculus, greek historian from agyrium in sicily, hence called siculus the sicilian. Lacuscurtius diodorus siculus book xxxi chapters 1. Book 36 of diodorus siculus historical library, translated into english. His purpose in acting thus, it was thought, p315 was that he might. Diodorus siculus, the persian wars to the fall of athens.
Contents of the twelfth book of diodorus chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4 chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 chapter 8 chapter 9 chapter 10 chapter 11 chapter 12 chapter chapter 14 chapter 15 chapter 16 chapter 17 chapter 18 chapter 19 chapter 20 chapter 21 chapter 22. Diodorus siculus has 86 books on goodreads with 80 ratings. Diodorus great work spans the destruction of troy, the glories of alexander the great, the history and culture of ancient egypt and the near east and the. Diodorus lived in the time of julius caesar and augustus, and his own statements make it clear that he traveled in. When sicily, after the carthaginian collapse, had enjoyed sixty years of good fortune in all respects, the.
The siege must have started in 315, which places its end somewhere in the latter half of. Of this we have complete books i v egyptians, assyrians, ethiopians, greeks and books xi xx greek history 480 302. Diodorus siculus, book 36 fragments covering the period 104 98 b. It is said that the primary cause of this arose was that the romans, who. The first six books are geographical in theme, and describe the history and culture of egypt book i, of mesopotamia, india, scythia, and arabia ii, of north africa iii. Although they were ethnically greek, they were separated from their subject by hundreds of years. At the very end of book xv, in a passage demonstrably of diodoruss own composition, he announces that in the next book he will include all the achievements of philip until his death, encompassing also the other events in the known parts of the world xv 95. He served under antigonus at the siege of tyre in 315 b. He wrote, in greek, a world history in 40 books, ending with caesars gallic wars. Diodorus siculus was a greek historian from sicily whose sole suriving work, the historial library, aimed to relate the mytholoy and history of the whole world. His contributions to logicin particular, definitions of modal terms and the criteria for a sound conditionalare covered in the article on the dialectical school see also section 2 of the entry on fatalism. He is known for the monumental universal history bibliotheca historica.
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