Diodorus Siculus

• 1. Origins And Identity

  ›

  Diodorus Siculus emerged from the town of Agyrium in ancient Sicily, now known as Agira. He wrote his monumental history between 60 BC and 30 BC. Antiquity offers almost no details about his personal life beyond what he wrote himself. Jerome recorded a brief mention in his Chronicon under the year of Abraham 1968, which corresponds to 49 BC. This entry states that Diodorus became illustrious as a writer of Greek history. Charles Henry Oldfather noted a striking coincidence regarding an inscription found in Agyrium. The tombstone reads "Diodorus, the son of Apollonius" in Greek letters. Only two such inscriptions exist from that specific location. His final work was completed by 21 BC.

  1

• 2. Bibliotheca Historica Structure

  ›

  The historian organized his massive project into forty books divided into three distinct sections. The first six books cover mythic history up to the destruction of Troy with a geographical focus. Book one describes Ancient Egypt while book two covers Mesopotamia, India, Scythia, and Arabia. Books three through six detail North Africa, Greece, and Europe respectively. The second section spans books seven to seventeen and recounts events from the Trojan War to the death of Alexander the Great. The third part extends from the successors of Alexander down to either 60 BC or the start of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars. Diodorus chose the name Bibliotheca because he acknowledged assembling a composite work from many sources. The title translates directly to Historical Library.

  45

• 3. Source Material And Methodology

  ›

  Diodorus drew upon a vast array of ancient authors to construct his narrative. Identified writers include Hecataeus of Abdera, Ctesias of Cnidus, Ephorus, and Theopompus. He also utilized works by Hieronymus of Cardia, Duris of Samos, Diyllus, Philistus, Timaeus, Polybius, and Posidonius. This approach created a universal history that synthesized diverse perspectives. The method involved compiling existing accounts rather than relying solely on personal observation. His selection of names reflects a deliberate effort to gather material from across the known world. The resulting text serves as a repository for lost histories preserved only within his compilation.

• 4. Survival And Transmission

  ›

  Fifteen of the original forty books survive intact today while others exist only in fragments. Books one through five and eleven through twenty remain complete. Fragments of the missing volumes were recovered through later excerpts found in Photius and Constantine Porphyrogenitus. These later compilers preserved snippets of the lost text for future generations. The survival rate represents less than half of the original project. Scholars rely heavily on these surviving portions to reconstruct the historian's full vision. The gaps leave significant questions about the final years covered in the work.

  3

• 5. Historical Scope And Gaps

  ›

  The chronological range extends from the destruction of Troy down to 60 BC. Evidence suggests Diodorus stopped writing at this point due to age or fatigue. It remains unclear whether he intended to reach the beginning of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars as promised. The end of the text is lost, creating uncertainty about his ultimate goals. Some theories propose that old age halted his labors before completion. Others suggest political circumstances may have influenced the abrupt ending. The missing books cover the period between 60 BC and the start of the Gallic Wars. This gap leaves historians with an incomplete picture of late Republican Rome.