Bibliotheca historica
Bibliotheca historica (
Diodorus' immense work has not survived intact; only the first five books and books 11 through 20 remain. The rest exists only in fragments preserved in Photius and the Excerpta of Constantine Porphyrogenitus.
Chronology
The earliest date Diodorus mentions is his visit to
Structure
In the Bibliotheca historica, Diodorus sets out to write a universal history, covering the entire world and all periods of time. 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. These are now generally agreed to be entirely Diodorus' own work.[1] The degree to which the text that follows is derived from earlier historical works is debated.
The first five books describe the history and culture of different regions, without attempting to determine the relative chronology of events. Diodorus expresses serious doubts that such chronology is possible for barbarian lands and the distant past. The resulting books have affinities with the genre of geography. Books six to ten, which covered the transition from mythical times to the archaic period, are almost entirely lost. By book ten he had taken up an annalistic structure,[2] narrating all the events throughout the world in each year before moving on to the next one. Books eleven to twenty, which are completely intact and cover events between 480 BC and 302 BC, maintain this annalistic structure. Books twenty-one to forty, which brought the work down to Diodorus' own lifetime, terminating around 60 BC, are mostly lost.[3]
Book I: Egypt
Book one opens with a prologue on the work as a whole, arguing for the importance of history generally and universal history in particular. The rest of the book is devoted to Egypt and is divided into two halves. In the first half he covers the origin of the world and the development of civilisation in Egypt. A long discussion of the theories offered by different Greek scholars to explain the annual floods of the
Book II: Asia
This book has only a short prologue outlining its contents. The majority of the book is devoted to the history of the
Book III: Africa
In this book, Diodorus describes the geography of
And those who have been condemned in this way—and they are a great multitude and are all bound in chains—work at their task unceasingly both by day and throughout the entire night ... For no leniency or respite of any kind is given to any man who is sick, or maimed, or aged, or in the case of a woman for her weakness, but all without exception are compelled by blows to persevere in their labours, until through ill-treatment they die in the midst of their tortures.[7]
Book IV: Greek mythology
In this book, Diodorus describes the
.Book V: Europe
In this book, Diodorus describes the geography of
Books VI–X: Trojan War and Archaic Greece
Books VI–X survive only in fragments, which cover events before and after the Trojan War including the stories of Bellerophon, Orpheus, Aeneas, and Romulus; some history from cities including Rome and Cyrene; tales of kings such as Croesus and Cyrus; and mentions of philosophers such as Pythagoras and Zeno.
Book XI: 480-451 BC
This book has no prologue, just a brief statement of its contents.
The main focus of the book are events in mainland Greece, principally the
Diodorus' source for his account of mainland Greece in this book is generally agreed to be
Book XII: 450-416 BC
The book's prologue muses on the mutability of fortune. Diodorus notes that bad events can have positive outcomes, like the prosperity of Greece which (he says) resulted from the Persian Wars.
Diodorus account mostly focuses on mainland Greece, covering the end of the Pentecontaetia (1-7, 22, 27-28), the first half of the
Diodorus is believed to have continued to use Ephorus, perhaps supplemented with other historians, as his source for Greek events in this book, while the source for the events in western Greece is usually identified as
Book XIII: 415-404 BC
Diodorus explains that, given the amount of material to be covered, his prologue must be brief.
This book opens with the account of the
Ephorus is generally agreed to have continued to be the source of the Greek narrative and Timaeus of the Sicilian narrative. The source of the Sicilian expedition is disputed - both Ephorus and Timaeus have been put forward.[10] Sacks argues that the two speeches at the end of that account are Diodorus' own work.[11]
Book XIV: 404-387 BC
In the prologue, Diodorus identifies reproachful criticism (blasphemia) as the punishment for evil deeds which people take to heart the most and which the powerful are especially subject to. Powerful men, therefore, should avoid evil deeds in order to avoid receiving this reproach from posterity. Diodorus claims that the central subjects of the book are negative examples, who demonstrate the truth of these remarks.
The book is again divided into Greek and Sicilian narratives. The Greek narrative covers the
The Sicilian narrative focusses on Dionysios the Elder's establishment of his tyranny in Sicily (7-9, 11–16, 18), his second war with the Carthaginians (41-78, 85–91, 95-96), and his invasion of southern Italy (100-108, 111-112).
Fairly brief notes mention Roman affairs year by year, including the war with
Ephorus and Timaeus are assumed to have still been Diodorus' sources.[12] Some details in his account of the Ten Thousand may derive from a lost work of Sophaenetus.[13]
Book XV: 386-361 BC
In the prologue of this book, Diodorus makes several statements that have been considered important for understanding the philosophy behind his entire work. Firstly, he announces the importance of
This book covers the height of the Spartan rule in Greece, including the invasion of Persia, the
Diodorus' main source is generally believed to have been
Book XVI: 360‑336 BC
The Prologue announces the importance of cohesion within narratives - a book or chapter should, if possible, narrate an entire story from start to finish. It then transitions into praise of
The principal side narratives are Dion of Syracuse's overthrow of Dionysius II (5-6, 9-15), the Social War (7, 21-22), Artaxerxes III's reconquest of Egypt (40-52), and the expedition of Timoleon (interleaved in 65-90).
The initial sources for the main narrative was probably Ephorus, but his account came to an end in 356 BC, and Diodorus' sources after that point are disputed. Possibilities include Demophilus, Diyllus, Duris of Samos and Theopompus; contradictions in his account suggest that he was following multiple sources simultaneously and did not succeed in combining them perfectly.[17] The Sicilian material probably draws on Timaeus and also cites Athanis .[18]
Book XVII: 335‑324 BC
This book covers Alexander the Great from his accession, through his campaigns in Persia, to his death in Babylon. Despite a promise in the brief prologue to discuss other contemporary events, it does not contain any side-narratives, although, unlike other accounts of Alexander, it does mention Macedonian activities in Greece during his expedition. Owing to its length, the book is split into two halves, the first running down to the Battle of Gaugamela (1-63) and the second part continuing until his death (64-118).
Diodorus' sources for the story of Alexander are much debated. Sources of information include Aristobulus of Cassandreia, Cleitarchus, Onesicritus and Nearchus, but it is not clear that he used these directly.[19] Several scholars have argued that the unity of this account implies a single source, perhaps Cleitarchus.[20]
Book XVIII: 323-318 BC
This book covers the years 323 BC-318 BC, describing the disputes which arose between Alexander's generals after his death and the beginning of the
Book XIX: 317-311 BC
This book opens with a prologue arguing that democracy is usually overthrown by the most powerful members of society, not the weakest, and advancing Agathocles of Syracuse as a demonstration of this proposition.
The narrative of the book continues the account of the Diadochi, recounting the
Book XX: 310-302 BC
The prologue of this book discusses Greek historians' practice of inventing speeches for their characters to deliver. Diodorus criticises the practice as inappropriate to the genre, but acknowledges that in moderation such speeches can add variety and serve a didactic purpose.
The book is devoted to two parallel narratives, one describing Agathocles' ultimately unsuccessful invasion of Carthage, and the other devoted to the continued wars of the Diadochi, which are dominated by
Books XXI–XL
These books do not survive intact, but large sections were preserved by
For books 21–32, Diodorus drew on the history of
Book XXXII is notable for the inclusion of the lives of Diophantus of Abae, Callon of Epidaurus, and others who transitioned between genders. The record of Callon's medical treatment is the first known account of gender-affirming surgery.[23]
Reception
Ancient and medieval
Diodorus is mentioned briefly in Pliny the Elder's Natural History as being singular among the Greek historians for the simple manner in which he named his work.[24]
Modern
Diodorus' liberal use of earlier historians underlies the harsh opinion of the author of the
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.
As damaging as this sounds, other more contemporary classical scholars are likely to go even further. Diodorus has become infamous particularly for adapting his tales ad maiorem Graecorum gloriam ("to the greater glory of the Greeks"), leading one prominent author to refer to him as one of the "two most accomplished liars of antiquity"[25][26] (the other being Ctesias).
Far more sympathetic is the estimate of C.H. Oldfather, who wrote in the introduction to his translation of Diodorus:
While characteristics such as these exclude Diodorus from a place among the abler historians of the ancient world, there is every reason to believe that he used the best sources and that he reproduced them faithfully. His First Book, which deals almost exclusively with Egypt, is the fullest literary account of the history and customs of that country after Herodotus. Books II-V cover a wide range, and because of their inclusion of much mythological material are of much less value. In the period from 480 to 301 BC, which he treats in annalistic fashion and in which his main source was the Universal History of Ephorus, his importance varies according to whether he is the sole continuous source, or again as he is paralleled by superior writers. To the fifty years from 480 to 430 BC Thucydides devotes only a little more than thirty chapters; Diodorus covers it more fully (11.37-12.38) and his is the only consecutive literary account for the chronology of the period. ... For the years 362-302 BC Diodorus is again the only consecutive literary account, and ... Diodorus offers the only chronological survey of the period of Philip, and supplements the writers mentioned and contemporary sources in many matters. For the period of the Successors to Alexander, 323-302 BC (Books XVIII-XX), he is the chief literary authority and his history of this period assumes, therefore, an importance which it does not possess for the other years.
Editorial history
The earliest extant manuscript of Bibliotheca historica is from about 10th century.[27] The editio princeps of Diodorus was a Latin translation of the first five books by Poggio Bracciolini at Bologna in 1472. The first printing of the Greek original (at Basel in 1535) contained only books 16–20, and was the work of Vincentius Opsopoeus. It was not until 1559 that all of the surviving books, and surviving fragments of books 21 to the end were published by Stephanus at Geneva.
Editions and translations
- Sordi, Marta, ed. (1969). Diodori Siculi Bibliothecae liber sextus decimus. Biblioteca di studi superiori 56. Firenze: La Nuova Italia.
- Walton, Francis R., ed. (1933–1967). Diodorus Siculus. Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Translated by C. H. Oldfather. London; Cambridge (Mass.).
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)- Vol. 1 (Books 1-2.34). Tr. C. H. Oldfather. LCL 279 (1933). ISBN 978-0-674-99307-5.
- Vol. 2 (Books 2.35-4.58). Tr. C. H. Oldfather. LCL 303 (1935). ISBN 978-0-674-99334-1. Online: Internet Archive PDF
- Vol. 3 (Books 4.59-8). Tr. C. H. Oldfather. LCL 340 (1939). ISBN 978-0-674-99375-4.
- Vol. 4 (Books 9-12.40). Tr. C. H. Oldfather. LCL 375 (1946). ISBN 978-0-674-99413-3. Online: Perseus
- Vol. 5 (Books 12.41-13). Tr. C. H. Oldfather. LCL 384 (1950). ISBN 978-0-674-99422-5.
- Vol. 6 (Books 14–15.19). Tr. C. H. Oldfather. LCL 399 (1954). ISBN 978-0-674-99439-3.
- Vol. 7 (Books 15.20-16.65). Tr. Charles L. Sherman. LCL 389 (1952). ISBN 978-0-674-99428-7.
- Vol. 8 (Books 16.66-17). Tr. C. Bradford Welles. LCL 422 (1963). ISBN 978-0-674-99464-5
- Vol. 9 (Books 18–19.65). Tr. Russel M. Geer. LCL 377 (1947). ISBN 978-0-674-99415-7.
- Vol. 10 (Books 19.66-20). Tr. Russel M. Geer. LCL 390 (1954). ISBN 978-0-674-99429-4.
- Vol. 11 (Fragments of Books 21-32). Tr. Francis R. Walton. LCL 409 (1957). ISBN 978-0-674-99450-8.
- Vol. 12 (Fragments of Books 33-40). Tr. Francis R. Walton. LCL 423 (1967). ISBN 978-0-674-99465-2.
- Vol. 1 (Books 1-2.34). Tr. C. H. Oldfather. LCL 279 (1933).
- The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicilian in Fifteen Books, to which are Added the Fragments of Diodorus. 2 volumes. Translated by Booth, G. London. 1814. Available from Internet Archive
- Diodorus Siculus, Books 11-12.37.1. Translated by Green, Peter. Austin: University of Texas Press. 2006. ISBN 978-0-292-71277-5
- Diodorus Siculus, The Persian Wars to the Fall of Athen: Books 11-14.34 (480-401 BCE). Translated by Green, Peter. Austin: University of Texas Press. 2010. ISBN 978-0-292-72125-8
- Diodorus Siculus (4 July 2019). The Library, Books 16-20 Philip II, Alexander the Great, and the Successors. Translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198759881.
Footnotes
- ^ Sacks 1990, pp. 9ff.
- ^ Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheke 10.3.1
- ^ Sacks 1990, p. 169
- ^ Oldfather 1933, p. xxvi
- ^ Oldfather 1933, p. xxvii
- ^ Sacks 1990, p. 67
- ^ The Library of History of Diodorus Siculus, Vol II, Book III, Chapter 13-14. Loeb Classical Library (1935)
- ^ Hau 2009, p. 174 n.10
- ^ Hau 2009, p. 174 n.10
- ^ Hau 2009
- ^ Sacks 1990, pp. 101–108
- ^ Hau 2009
- .
- ^ Sacks 1990
- ^ Hornblower 1990, pp. 363–365
- ^ Hau 2009, p. 175 n.12
- ^ Hau 2009, p. 175
- ^ Welles 1963, pp. 3–6
- ^ Welles 1963, pp. 8–10
- ^ Hau 2009, pp. 175, 178
- ^ Hau 2009, p. 175
- ^ Hau 2009, p. 176
- PMID 26188239.
- ^ Pliny the Elder, Natural History, Preface 25
- ^ Lloyd, A. B. Herodotus Book II Volume 1. Leiden. pp. 47, note 187.
- JSTOR 25011095.
- ^ "Diodorus Siculus: the Manuscripts of the "Bibliotheca Historica"". tertullian.org. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
References
- Sacks, Kenneth S. (1990). Diodorus Siculus and the First Century. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691036004.
- Hau, Lisa Irene (2009). "The Burden of Good Fortune in Diodoros of Sicily: A Case for Originality?". Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte. 58 (2): 171–197. JSTOR 25598461.
- Hornblower, Simon P. (1990). "The So-Called 'Great Satraps' Revolt', 366-360 B.C.: Concerning Local Instability in the Achaemenid Far West by Michael Weiskopf". The Classical Review. 40 (2): 363–365. S2CID 162835337.
Further reading
- Burton, Anne (1972). Diodorus Siculus. Book 1. A Commentary. Leiden: Brill.
- Chamoux, François & Pierre Bertrac (1972). Diodorus Siculus. Bibliothèque historique. Vol 1. Introduction générale (in French). Paris.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Sacks, Kenneth S. Diodorus Siculus and the First Century. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990. ISBN 0-691-03600-4.
- Salter, F. M.; H. L. R. Edwards, eds. (1956–1963). The Bibliotheca Historica of Diodorus Siculus Translated by ISBN 978-0-19-722239-3
External links
- Diodorus Siculus translated by C.H. Oldfather, English translation, Greek text, Books 9–17 (text)
- Diodorus Siculus translated by C.H. Oldfather, English translation, Book 4 (text)
- The manuscripts of Diodorus Siculus by Roger Pearse (list only)
- Bibliotheca Historica (books 1-32), Bill Thayer's Web Site
- Bibliotheca Historica (books 33-40), Attalus.org