Diodorus Siculus, The Persian Wars to the Fall of Athens

Cover

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Title Page, Copyright

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Contents

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pp. v-vi

Preface

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pp. vii-x

In a recent review (BMCR 2007.02.48) of a volume of Italian articles devoted to Diodorus Siculus, Catherine Rubincam—a scholar who has done as much as anyone to upgrade Diodorus’ abysmal reputation—described him, crisply, as “the historian whose work every modern historian of ancient Greece must use, while fervently wishing this could be avoided.” Use him they certainly...

Abbreviations

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pp. xi-xvi

Introduction

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pp. 1-8

Few people apart from professional ancient historians know anything about Diodorus Siculus, and even ancient historians for the most part consult his text rather than read it. Those who have heard of him probably repeat the one cliché he invariably elicits, carefully fostered by generations of academics: that he is an unimaginative copyist only as good as his current source. Yet...

Book 11: 480-451 B.C.E.

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pp. 9-92

1. The preceding book, the tenth overall, concluded with the events of the year immediately prior to Xerxes’ crossing into Europe and the public speeches delivered in the General Assembly of the Hellenes at Corinth to discuss an alliance between Gelon [of Syracuse] and the Greeks [481; all dates are b.c.e. unless otherwise noted].¹ In the present book we shall fully narrate the subsequent course of events, beginning with Xerxes’ expedition against...

Book 12: 450-415 B.C.E.

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pp. 93-162

1. One might well feel at a loss when pausing to consider the anomaly inherent in human existence: namely, that of those things deemed good not one is found bestowed on mankind in its entirety, while among evils there is none so absolute that it lacks some advantageous element. We can find demonstrations [of this principle] by considering past events, especially those of major...

Book 13: 415-405 B.C.E.

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pp. 163-270

1. If we were composing a work in the common historical manner, we should probably discuss certain topics in each preface at whatever length was suitable, and through these achieve continuity with the narrative that follows; and indeed, were we covering a limited period in our text, we would have the leisure to enjoy the harvest such prefaces yield.¹ [2] However, since we undertook in a few books not only to write (as best we could) a narrative of events...

Book 14.1-34: 404-401 B.C.E.

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pp. 271-304

1. All men—possibly by nature—object to hearing hostile criticism of themselves. Even those whose wickedness is so entirely manifest that it cannot even be denied nevertheless resent it when they incur obloquy and make every effort to counter the accusation. For this reason, we should all take the greatest possible care to avoid base actions, especially those of us who cherish ambitions for high office or have received some notable favor from Fortune...

Bibliography

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pp. 305-308

Index

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pp. 309-332