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'This much-needed and timely work is a model of its kind and a testament to the author's massive erudition and good judgement.' John Dillery, Professor of Classics, University of Virginia Offers insights into the work of Diodorus and assesses the importance of his work There are only a few detailed histories of Persia from Ancient Greek historiography that have survived time. Diodorus of Sicily, a first century BC author, is the only one to have written a comprehensive history (the Βιβλιοθήκη ἱστορική (Bibliotheca Historica or Historical Library)) in which more than cursory attention is paid to Persia. The Bibliotheca Historica covers the entire period from Persia's prehistory until the arrival of the Parthians from the East and that of Roman power throughout Asia Minor and beyond from the West, some 750 odd years or more after Assyrian rule ended. Diodorus' contribution to our knowledge of Persian history is therefore of great value for the modern historian of the Ancient Near East and in this book Jan Stronk provides the first complete translation of Diodorus' account of the history of Persia. He also examines and evaluates both Diodorus' account and the sources he used to compose his work, taking into consideration the historical, political and archaeological factors that may have played a role in the transmission of the evidence he used to acquire the raw material underlying his Bibliotheca. Jan P. Stronk is Research Associate in the Department of Ancient History at the University of Amsterdam. Cover image: The Banquet Scene, Gypsum wall panel relief fragment (c) The Trustees of the British Museum Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-1425-8 Barcode
List of contents
List of Figures and Tables
PrefaceAbbreviationsSeries Editor's PrefaceIntroduction: Diodorus' Work and Our SourcesA. Introduction
B. Diodorus' life
C. The
B¿ß¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ ¿st¿¿¿¿¿ ('Historical Library')
D. Diodorus' method
E. Diodorus' views
F. The structure of the
Bibliotheca
G. Final observations
H. Summary
I. Our primary sources for Diodorus: manuscripts and relevant editions
Manuscripts of books 1-5
Manuscripts of books 11-20
The
Excerpta Constantiniana
Manuscripts of the
Excerpta Constantiniana
Photius'
Bibliotheca
Manuscripts of Photius'
Bibliotheca
Some editions of Diodorus'
Bibliotheca
1 Diodorus' SourcesA. Preliminary remarks
B. Books 1-5
C. Fragments books 6-10
D. Books 11-20
E. Fragments books 21-32
F. Fragments books 33-40
G. Diodorus and his source-authors
H. Diodorus' use of his sources
2 Ancient History: Assyrians, Chaldeans, and MedesA. The Assyrian History
B. The Chaldean History
C. The Median History
3 The Persians and the Greek WarsA. The Arians and general customs of the Persians
B. Cyrus the Great (c. 576/5-530)
C. Cambyses II (?-523/2)
D. Darius the Great (c. 550-486)
E. Xerxes I (c. 519-465)
4 Revolt and SeditionA. Artaxerxes I (?-424)
B. Xerxes II (?-423)
C. Sogdianus (?-423)
D. Darius II (?-404)
E. Artaxerxes II
Mnemon (c. 436-358)
F. Artaxerxes III
Ochus (425-338)
5 Alexander the Great Defeats Darius IIIA. Darius III
Codomannus (c. 380-330)
B. Alexander's expedition up to the end of the Battle of Issus
C. From Issus to Gaugamela
D. From Gaugamela to Persepolis
6 From Persepolis to BabylonA. Alexander pursues Bessus
B. Alexander's Indian adventure
C. The final phase of the expedition
7 The Period of the Diadochs: The Rift OpensThe years 323/2-318/17
8 The Period of the Diadochs: The Rift DeepensThe years 317/16-311/10
9 The Vicissitudes of the Diadoch Kingdoms: The Final Years of Diodorus' Persian AccountA. The years 311/10-260/79
B. The years after 280
10 Semiramis' LegacyConclusionBibliographyIndex of Classical SourcesIndex of Modern AuthorsGeneral Index
About the author
Jan Stronk is Research Associate in the Department of Ancient History at the University of Amsterdam. He is the author of The Ten Thousand in Thrace: An Archaeological and Historical Commentary on Xenophon's Anabasis, Books VI.iii-vi - VII (1995), Ctesias' Persian History, Part I: Introduction, Text and Translation (2010) and Ctesias' Persian History, Part 2: Historical Commentary and Conclusions (forthcoming).
Summary
There are only a few detailed histories of Persia from Ancient Greek historiography that have survived time. Diodorus of Sicily, a first century BC author, is the only one to have written a comprehensive history in which more than cursory attention is paid to Persia.
