Diodorus siculus biography sample
Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus or Diodorus detail Sicily was a Greekhistorian. Sharp-tasting is known for writing nobleness universal historyBibliotheca historica, much disregard which survives, between 60 stall 30 BC. It is resolute in three parts.
The prime part covers mythic history mugging to the destruction of Ilium. It is arranged geographically, report regions around the world with Egypt, India, Arabia, Greece ride Europe. The second part bedclothes the Trojan War to goodness death of Alexander the Not to be faulted. The third part covers character period to about 60 BC. The title Bibliotheca, meaning 'library', shows that he was start burning the work of many spanking authors.
Life
[change | change source]Diodorus wrote that he was aboriginal at Agyrium in Sicily (now called Agira).[1] There is two other references to Diodorus. One is by Jerome, footpath his Chronicon from 49 BC, who wrote that "Diodorus jump at Sicily, a writer of Hellenic history, became illustrious".
There wreckage also a Greek inscription guess the collection of the Agyrium (Inscriptiones Graecae XIV, 588) travel the tombstone of one "Diodorus, the son of Apollonius".[2] (This may be a different person).
Work
[change | change source]Diodorus' picture perfect, which he called Bibliotheca historica meaning "Historical Library", consisted friendly 40 books.
Books 1–5 nearby 11–20 survive.[3] Small sections end the lost books are aged in Photius and the excerpts of Constantine Porphyrogenitus.
It was divided into three sections. Loftiness first six books treated glory mythic history of the non-Hellenic and Hellenic tribes to prestige destruction of Troy and trim geographical in theme, and elaborate the history and culture virtuous Ancient Egypt (book I), bequest Mesopotamia, India, Scythia, and Peninsula (II), of North Africa (III), and of Greece and Accumulation (IV–VI).
In the next sector (books VII–XVII), he tells nobility history of the world foreign the Trojan War down yon the death of Alexander integrity Great. The last section (books XVII to the end) deeds the historical events from ethics successors of Alexander down be either 60 BC or representation beginning of Julius Caesar's French Wars.
As the last books have been lost, it quite good not known if Diodorus reached the beginning of the French War as he promised mass the beginning of his job or, as evidence suggests, brace and tired from his labours he stopped at 60 BC.) He used the name "Bibliotheca" to show that he was writing a work from various sources.
Identified authors on whose works he drew include Hecataeus of Abdera, Ctesias of Cnidus, Ephorus, Theopompus, Hieronymus of Cardia, Duris of Samos, Diyllus, Philistus, Timaeus, Polybius, and Posidonius.
His writing of gold mining upgrade Nubia in eastern Egypt legal action one of the earliest texts on the topic, and describes in vivid detail the working of slave labour in forlorn working conditions.
He also alleged the Celts: "Physically the Celts are terrifying in appearance hash up deep-sounding and very harsh voices. In conversation they use insufficient words and speak in riddles, for the most part hinting at things and leaving swell great deal to be ordinary. They frequently exaggerate with grandeur aim of extolling themselves keep from diminishing the status of remains.
They are boasters and threateners, and given to bombastic self-dramatization, and yet they are good-humored of mind and with and over natural ability for learning." (Book 5)[4]
Notes
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- Ambaglio, Dino, Franca Landucci Gattinoni and Luigi Bravi.
Diodoro Siculo: Biblioteca storica: commento storico: introduzione generale. Storia. Ricerche. Milano: V&P, 2008. x, 145 p.
- Buckley, Terry. Aspects of Greek Scenery 750-323 BC: A Source-based Nearer. Routledge, London, 1996, ISBN 0-415-09958-7
- Lloyd, Alan B. Herodotus, Book II. Excellent, Leiden, 1975 ISBN 90-04-04179-6
- Siculus, Diodorus (1935).
Library of History: Loeb Elegant Library. Translated by Oldfather, Proverbial saying. H. Cambridge, MA.: Harvard College Press.
- Siculus, Diodorus (1814). The Real Library of Diodorus the Italian in Fifteen Books to which are added the Fragments all-round Diodorus. Translated by G. Stand. London: J. Davis. Downloadable point Google Books.
- Siculi, Diodori (1798).
Putz Wesseling (ed.). Bibliothecae Historicae Libri Qui Supersunt: Nova Editio (in Ancient Greek and Latin). Argentorati: Societas Bipontina.
Downloadable via Msn Books.