He wrote a history of the world in 40 books which included large sections devoted to myth, legend and the unusual customs of foreign tribes. Greek history, 480431 bcthe alternative version translated with introduction and commentary by peter green 2006. Diodorus also mentions that in his days, the macedonians were still rulers of egypt, which suggests that he published his work shortly before 30, when octavian defeated mar antony and cleopatra, the last ptolemaic queen, and conquered the ancient country along the nile. Contents preface abbreviations introduction diodorus siculus.
Diodorus siculus, the persian wars to the fall of athens. Jan 16, 2018 bibliotheca historica by diodorus siculus. Bloomington, 1989, 3 6, in which he states that posidonius was the source for diodorus, and that, if diodorus followed his usual methodological procedures when using. Diodoruss library of history, written in the first century bce, is the most extensively preserved history by an ancient greek author. Table of contents for diodorus siculus, books 1112. He is known for the monumental universal history bibliotheca historica. Ancient history, history, early works to 1800, world history, kings and. Diodorus lived in the time of julius caesar and augustus, and his own statements make it clear that he traveled in. Diodorus own input into the bibliotheke has been dismissed as. Diodorus siculus, greek historian, the author of a universal history, bibliotheke library.
Library of history, volume xii diodorus siculus harvard. Unfortunately the second half books 2140 has only survived in fragments, but even these fragments represent one of the most important sources for the history of the. Classical texts library diodorus siculus, library of history book 4. Diodorus siculus simple english wikipedia, the free. Diodorus siculus project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Diodorus s library of history, written in the first century bce, is the most extensively preserved history by an ancient greek author. Fragments of book 10 fragments of uncertain provenience book xi. Greek history, 480431 bcthe alternative version paperback at.
Immanuel bekker, ludwig dindorf, friedrich vogel, immanel bekker, ed. Introduction, text, and translation by ctesias by jan p. This is not found in the extant portions of diodorus. The first covers mythic history up to the destruction of troy, arranged geographically, describing regions. Since the nineteenth century his bibliotheke has been dismissed as a derivative work produced by an incompetent compiler, useful often only in so far as one can mine his text for lost and, evidently, far superior works of history. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Full text of diodorus of sicily, with an english translation by c. Diodorus siculus the library of history lacuscurtius diodorus. Diodorus says that the socalled marsic war which happened in his lifetime was greater than all previous wars.
Library of history, volume i diodorus siculus harvard. It is arranged geographically, describing regions around the world including egypt, india, arabia, greece and. Author of bibliotheca historica, diodorus of sicily, diodorus siculus, bibliothecae historicae libri qui supersunt, e recensione petri wesselingii, cum interpretatione latina laur. He is known for writing the universal history bibliotheca historica, much of which survives, between 60 and 30 bc.
The nook book ebook of the diodorus siculus, books 1112. In the bibliotheca historica, diodorus sets out to write a universal history, covering the entire world and all periods of time. Diodorus of sicily, with an english translation by c. Ursinus, volume 1 volume 1 of the historical library of diodorus the. The most extreme view regarding diodorus reliance on posidonius is that held by bradley, k. Greek history, 480431 bcthe alternative version kindle edition by diodorus siculus, peter green, green, peter. Aims, achievements, criticism the persian wars and the pentekontaetia translation and commentary, diodorus siculus bibliotheke book 11.
Diodoros sikeliotes or diodorus of sicily was a greek historian. Contents of the thirteenth book of diodorus chapter 1 chapter 2. Diodorus siculus, library, fragments of book 9, chapter 37. The sources of diodorus siculus, book 1 575 use of diodorus in her study on. Diodorus siculus, library, book xiii, contents of the. Historical library the historical library of diodorus siculus is a detailed account of greek and roman history down to the authors own time about 60 b. Books 15 and 1120 survive complete, the rest in fragments. Encyclopaedia britannicadiodorus siculus entry in the. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading diodorus siculus, books 1112. Lacuscurtius diodorus siculus book xxxi chapters 18. Diodorus siculus has not enjoyed a positive reputation among historians of antiquity. Diodorus of sicily in twelve volumes by charles henry oldfather 1977, introduction. Augeas had agreed to give heracles onetenth of his herds in payment for the cleansing of his stables.
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. The first part covers mythic history up to the destruction of troy. He is known for writing the monumental universal history bibliotheca historica, much of which survives, between 60 and 30 bc. Click on the g symbols to go to the greek text of the fragments. Fragments of book 9 fragments of book 10 fragments of uncertain provenience book xi book xii book xiii book xiv book xv book xvi book xvii chapter. Greek history, 480431 bc the alternative version diodorus siculus translated, with introduction and commentary, by peter green. Ursinus, volume 1 volume 1 of the historical library of diodorus the sicilian, in fifteen books, diodorus siculus. Arguing for a thorough critical reappraisal of diodorus as a minor but far from idiotic historian himself, peter green published diodorus siculus, books 1112. Each book opens with a table of its contents and a preface discussing the relevance of history, issues in the writing of history or the significance of the events discussed in that book. Diodorus took generously from a praise of heracles. Greek history 480431 bc, the alternative version 2006. To which are added the fragments of diodorus, and those published by h.
It consisted of forty books, which were divided into three sections. Spartan defeat in the boeotian war which resulted in the rise of the theban hegemony 2535, 3740, 62. Diodoros sikeliotes was a greek historian, who wrote works of history between 60 and 30 bc. Home browse books book details, diodorus siculus, books 1112. Here he enrolled some two thousand soldiers from his own and. It is known that diodorus used good and reliable sources.
Diodorus siculus, bibliotheca historica, books iv, book 4, chapter. Diodorus siculus or diodorus of sicily was a greek historian. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A complete set still existed in the imperial palace in constantinople at the start of the renaissance in the 15th century, but perished with the sack of the city in 1453. Read the fulltext online edition of diodorus siculus, books 1112. Diodorus siculus, book 37 fragments covering the period 91 88 b. Diodorus, siculus peter green sicilian historian diodorus siculus ca.
For the historian of the ancient world there is nothing more necessary and nothing more difficult than the task of discriminating between fact and fiction, between accuracy and exaggeration, in his sources. Bibliotheca historica is a work of universal history by diodorus siculus. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Composition, antecedents, influences the bibliotheke ii. The marsic war took its name from the leaders of the defection, although the italians in general made this war upon the romans.