The History of the Diadochoi in Book XIX of Diodoros’ ›Bibliotheke‹: A Historical and Historiographical Commentary

Alexander Meeus

Published by De Gruyter 2022

The History of the Diadochoi in Book XIX of Diodoros’ ›Bibliotheke‹

A Historical and Historiographical Commentary

Alexander Meeus

Volume 149 in the series Untersuchungen zur antiken Literatur und Geschichte

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110743821

Overview
Contents

About this book

Diodoros of Sicily’s book XIX is the main source for the history of the Diadochoi, Alexander the Great’s Successors, from 317 to 311 BCE. With the first full-scale commentary on this text in any language Alexander Meeus offers a detailed and reliable guide to the complicated historical narrative and the fascinating ethnographic information transmitted by Diodoros, which includes the earliest accounts of Indian widow burning and Nabataean culture.

Studying both history and historiography, this volume elucidates a crucial stage in the creation of the Hellenistic world in Greece and the Near East as well as the confusing source tradition.

Diodoros, a long neglected author indispensable for much of our knowledge of Antiquity, is currently enjoying growing scholarly interest. An ample introduction discusses his historical methods and sheds light on his language and style and on the manuscript transmission of books XVII-XX. By negotiating between diametrically opposed scholarly opinions a new understanding of Diodoros’ place in the ancient historiographical tradition is offered.

The volume is of interest to scholars of ancient historiography, Hellenistic history, Hellenistic prose and the textual transmission of the Bibliotheke.

Author / Editor information

Alexander Meeus, University of Mannheim, Germany.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Part I: Diodoros and His Work
1 Diodoros of Agyrion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	7
2 The Bibliotheke Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	9
3 The Problem of the Sources Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	58
4 The Chronology of the Years 317–311 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	91
Part II: Commentary
§ 2.1 Chronographic Formula for the Year 317/6 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
§ 11 Olympias’ Return, the Deaths of Arrhidaios and Eurydike, and Olympias’ Revenge on the Antipatrids for the Death of Alexander Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
§ 12–13 Eumenes in Babylonia and the Crossing of the Tigris Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	131
§ 14 Eumenes’ Alliance with the Governors and Generals from the Upper Satrapies Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	151
§ 15 The Power Struggle of the Commanders of the Satrapal Alliance and the Alexander Tent Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	167
§ 16 The End of the Perdikkan Captives Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	176
§ 17–19 Antigonos’ Crossing into the Upper Satrapies and the First Skirmishing Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	183
§ 20 Rest, Recovery and Replenishment in Media Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	202
§ 21–24 The Struggle for Power in the Satrapal Coalition Surfaces Again Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	204
§ 25–26 The Prelude to the Battle of Paraitakene Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	223
§ 27–31 The Battle of Paraitakene Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	231
§ 32 The Aftermath of the Battle Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	259
§ 33–34 Keteus’ Widows Compete to Join Their Husband in Death Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	260
§ 35–36 Kassandros’ Return to Macedonia and the Struggle against Polyperchon and Olympias Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	269
§ 37–39 The Build Up to the Battle of Gabiene Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	281
§ 40–43 The Battle of Gabiene Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	290
§ 44 The Aftermath of the Battle Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	306
§ 45 The Flood of Rhodes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	314
§ 46–48 The Establishment of Antigonos’ Supremacy in Asia Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	319
§ 49–51 The Defeat and Death of Olympias Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	333
§ 52–54 The Establishment of Kassandros’ Power in Europe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	344
§ 55–57 Seleukos’ Flight and the Coalition against Antigonos Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	367
§ 58–60 Antigonos’ Preparations for the War and the Siege of Tyre Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	391
§ 61 Antigonos’ Propagandistic Proclamation at Tyre Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	401
§ 62 The Reaction of Ptolemaios Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	407
§ 63–64 The First Phase of the War in Europe and the Aegean Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	414
§ 66–69 The Second Year of the War Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	421
§ 73–75 The Third Year of the War Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	437
§ 77–78 Polemaios in Greece Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	455
§ 79 Ptolemaios’ Interventions in Kyrene and Cyprus, and the Raids on the Syrian and Kilikian Coasts Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	466
§ 80–84 The Battle of Gaza Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	474
§ 85–86 The Aftermath of the Battle Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	488
§ 87 Telesphoros’ Revolt in the Peloponnese Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	499
§ 88–89 Kassandros’ Operations in Epeiros and Illyria Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	501
§ 90–92 Seleukos’ Return to Babylon Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	504
§ 93 Ptolemaios’ Loss of Syria Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	520
§ 94–100.2 The Antigonid Campaigns against the Nabataians Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	523
§ 100.3–7 Demetrios’ Expedition in Babylonia Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	539
§ 105.1–4 The Peace of the Dynasts and the Deaths of Alexander IV and Rhoxane Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	543
Abbreviations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	550
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	552
Appendix: Textual Variants Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	618
Index Graecitatis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	620

(Deutsch)

Languages: English, Ancient Greek
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Scholars and students of Classical Studies and Ancient history
Pages
- Front matter: 10
- Main content: 625
Illustrations
- Coloured Illustrations: 1
- Tables: 4
Keywords: Diodoros; Hellenistic history; Greek historiograpy; Koinè

eBook

Published: February 21, 2022
ISBN: 9783110743821

Hardcover

Published: March 7, 2022
ISBN: 9783110741957