Diodorus Siculus

Agira, Sicily, Italy

From his own statements, Diodorus travelled in Egypt between 60-57 B. C. and that he spent several years in Rome. The latest event mentioned by him belongs to the year 21 B. C. He asserts that he devoted thirty years to the composition of his history, and that he undertook frequent and dangerous journeys in prosecution of his historical researches. These assertions, however, find little credit with recent critics. The history, to which Diodorus gave the name βιβλιοθήκη ἱστορική (Bibliotheca historica, “Historical Library”), consisted of forty books, and was divided into three parts. The first treats of the mythic history of the non-Hellenic, and afterwards of the Hellenic tribes, to the destruction of Troy; the second section ends with Alexander’s death; and the third continues the history as far as the beginning of Caesar’s Gallic War. Of this extensive work there are still extant only the first five books, treating of the mythic history of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Ethiopians and Greeks; and also the 11th to the 20th books inclusive, beginning with the second Persian War, and ending with the history of the successors of Alexander, previous to the partition of the Macedonian empire (302). The rest exists only in fragments preserved in Photius and the excerpts of Constantine Porphyrogenitus. The faults of Diodorus arise partly from the nature of the undertaking, and the awkward form of annals into which he has thrown the historical portion of his narrative. He shows none of the critical faculties of the historian, merely setting down a number of unconnected details. His narrative contains frequent repetitions and contradictions, is without colouring, and monotonous; and his simple diction, which stands intermediate between pure Attic and the colloquial Greek of his time, enables us to detect in the narrative the undigested fragments of the materials which he employed. In spite of its defects, however, the Bibliotheca is of considerable value as to some extent supplying the loss of the works of older authors, from which it is compiled. Unfortunately, Diodorus does not always quote his authorities, but his general sources of information were in history and chronology, Castor, Ephorus and Apollodorus; in geography, Agatharchides and Artemidorus. In special sections he followed special authorities—e. g. in the history of his native Sicily, Philistus and Timaeus.

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book

Bibliotheca Historica

( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicilian, in Fifteen Books, Vol. 1 of 2: To Which Are Added the Fragments of Diodorus, and Those Published by ... Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus (Classic Reprint)

(Excerpt from The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicil...)

Diodorus Siculus: The Library of History, Volume V, Books 12.41-13 (Loeb Classical Library No. 384) by Siculus Diodorus (1950-01-01)

Diodori Siculi Bibliothecae Historicae Quae Supersunt, Vol. 3 (Classic Reprint) (Latin Edition)

(Excerpt from Diodori Siculi Bibliothecae Historicae Quae ...)

Diodorus Siculus: Library of History, Volume XII, Fragments of Books 33-40 (Loeb Classical Library No. 423)

( Diodorus Siculus, Greek historian of Agyrium in Sicily...)

Diodorus Siculus

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historian

Background

According to his own work, Diodorus was born at Agyrium in Sicily (now called Agira) around 90 BC.

Career

From his own statements, Diodorus travelled in Egypt between 60-57 B. C. and that he spent several years in Rome. The latest event mentioned by him belongs to the year 21 B. C. He asserts that he devoted thirty years to the composition of his history, and that he undertook frequent and dangerous journeys in prosecution of his historical researches. These assertions, however, find little credit with recent critics.

The history, to which Diodorus gave the name βιβλιοθήκη ἱστορική (Bibliotheca historica, “Historical Library”), consisted of forty books, and was divided into three parts. The first treats of the mythic history of the non-Hellenic, and afterwards of the Hellenic tribes, to the destruction of Troy; the second section ends with Alexander’s death; and the third continues the history as far as the beginning of Caesar’s Gallic War. Of this extensive work there are still extant only the first five books, treating of the mythic history of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Ethiopians and Greeks; and also the 11th to the 20th books inclusive, beginning with the second Persian War, and ending with the history of the successors of Alexander, previous to the partition of the Macedonian empire (302). The rest exists only in fragments preserved in Photius and the excerpts of Constantine Porphyrogenitus.

The faults of Diodorus arise partly from the nature of the undertaking, and the awkward form of annals into which he has thrown the historical portion of his narrative. He shows none of the critical faculties of the historian, merely setting down a number of unconnected details. His narrative contains frequent repetitions and contradictions, is without colouring, and monotonous; and his simple diction, which stands intermediate between pure Attic and the colloquial Greek of his time, enables us to detect in the narrative the undigested fragments of the materials which he employed. In spite of its defects, however, the Bibliotheca is of considerable value as to some extent supplying the loss of the works of older authors, from which it is compiled. Unfortunately, Diodorus does not always quote his authorities, but his general sources of information were in history and chronology, Castor, Ephorus and Apollodorus; in geography, Agatharchides and Artemidorus. In special sections he followed special authorities—e. g. in the history of his native Sicily, Philistus and Timaeus.