Diŏdōrus

, an historian, surnamed Siculus , because he was born at Argyra in Sicily. He wrote a history of Egypt, Persia, Syria, Media, Greece, Rome, and Carthage, which was divided into 40 books, of which only 15 are extant, with some few fragments. This valuable composition was the work of an accurate inquirer, and it is said that he visited all the places of which he has made mention in his history. It was the labour of 30 years, though the greater part may be considered as nothing more than a judicious compilation from Berosus, Timæus, Theopompus, Callisthenes, and others. The author, however, is too credulous in some of his narrations, and often wanders far from the truth. His style is neither elegant nor too laboured, but it contains great simplicity and unaffected correctne . He often dwells too long upon fabulous reports and trifling incidents, while events of the greatest importance to history are treated with brevity, and sometimes pa ed over in silence. His manner of reckoning, by the Olympiads and the Roman consuls, will be found very erroneous. The historian flourished about 44 years B.C. He spent much time at Rome to procure information, and authenticate his historical narrations. The best edition of his works is that of We eling, 2  vols. , folio, Amsterdam, 1746.――A disciple of Euclid, in the age of Plato. Diogenes Laërtius , Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers .――A comic poet.――A son of Echeanax, who, with his brothers Codrus and Anaxagoras, murdered Hegesias the tyrant of Ephesus, . Polyænus , bk. 6 .――An Ephesian, who wrote an account of the life of Anaximander. Diogenes Laërtius. ――An orator of Sardis, in the time of the Mithridatic war.――A stoic philosopher, preceptor to Cicero. He lived and died in the house of his pupil, whom he instructed in the various branches of Greek literature. Cicero , Brutus .――A general of Demetrius.――A writer, surnamed Periegetes , who wrote a description of the earth. Plutarch , Them is toc les .――An African, . Plutarch.