Antidamas

Last updated

Antidamas or Antidamus of Heracleia was a writer of ancient Greece. He wrote in Greek (or Latin, according to Arrian) [1] a history of Alexander the Great, and some moral works, which are referred to by the 5th century writer Fabius Planciades Fulgentius.

Scholars question whether these works, and their author, even existed, and suggest that the titles and author were fabrications of Fulgentius's, [2] who is not considered a trustworthy or accurate source.

"Antidamas"—unrelated to this Antidamas—is also the name of the father of the main character Agorastocles in Plautus's play Poenulus .

Notes

  1. Arrian (1814). Arrian's History of Alexander's Expedition. Vol. 2. Translated by Rooke, John. R. Lea. p. 296. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  2. Gudeman, Alfred (1894). "Literary Frauds Among the Romans". Transactions of the American Philological Association. 25. Johns Hopkins University Press, American Philological Association: 140–164. doi:10.2307/2935663. JSTOR   2935663.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain :  Smith, William (1870). "Anticrates". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology . Vol. 1. p. 185.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aelianus Tacticus</span> 2nd-century Greek military writer

Aelianus Tacticus, also known as Aelian, was a Greek military writer who lived in Rome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrian</span> 2nd century Greek historian, official and philosopher

Arrian of Nicomedia was a Greek historian, public servant, military commander, and philosopher of the Roman period.

Callisthenes of Olynthus was a Greek historian in Macedon with connections to both Aristotle and Alexander the Great. He accompanied Alexander the Great during his Asiatic expedition and served as his historian and publicist. He later opposed Alexander’s adoption of Persian culture and was arrested after being implicated in a plot on the king's life; he died in prison. During his life, he authored several works on Greek history and a biography of Alexander the Great.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Greek literature</span> Literature written in Ancient Greek language

Ancient Greek literature is literature written in the Ancient Greek language from the earliest texts until the time of the Byzantine Empire. The earliest surviving works of ancient Greek literature, dating back to the early Archaic period, are the two epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey, set in an idealized archaic past today identified as having some relation to the Mycenaean era. These two epics, along with the Homeric Hymns and the two poems of Hesiod, the Theogony and Works and Days, constituted the major foundations of the Greek literary tradition that would continue into the Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods.

Zeleia was a town of the ancient Troad, at the foot of Mount Ida and on the banks of the river Aesepus, at a distance of 80 stadia from its mouth. It is mentioned by Homer in the Trojan Battle Order in the Iliad, and later when Homer calls it a holy town. Zeleia led a force of warriors to aid Troy during the Trojan War, led by Pandarus, son of Lycaon (the latter Lycaon not to be confused with Lycaon, son of Priam. It is later related that the people of Zeleia are "Lycians", though the Zeleians are distinct from the Lycians who come from Lycia in southwestern Asia Minor, led by Sarpedon and Glaucus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onesicritus</span>

Onesicritus, a Greek historical writer and Cynic philosopher, who accompanied Alexander the Great on his campaigns in Asia. He claimed to have been the commander of Alexander's fleet but was actually only a helmsman; Arrian and Nearchus often criticize him for this. When he returned home, he wrote a history of Alexander's campaigns. He is frequently cited by later authors, who also criticize him for his inaccuracies.

Fabius Planciades Fulgentius was a Latin writer of late antiquity. Four extant works are commonly attributed to him, as well as a possible fifth which some scholars include in compilations with much reservation. His mythography was greatly admired and highly influential throughout much of the medieval period, though less influential today.

<i>Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology</i> Encyclopedia and biographical dictionary ed. by William Smith (1849)

The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology is a biographical dictionary of classical antiquity, edited by William Smith and originally published in London by Taylor, Walton and John Murray from 1844 to 1849 in three volumes of more than 3,700 pages. It is a classic work of 19th-century lexicography. The work is a companion to Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities and Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography.

Ostanes, also spelled Hostanes and Osthanes, is a legendary Persian magus and alchemist. It was the pen-name used by several pseudo-anonymous authors of Greek and Latin works from Hellenistic period onwards. Together with Pseudo-Zoroaster and Pseudo-Hystaspes, Ostanes belongs to the group of pseudepigraphical "Hellenistic Magians", that is, a long line of Greek and other Hellenistic writers who wrote under the name of famous "Magians". While Pseudo-Zoroaster was identified as the "inventor" of astrology, and Pseudo-Hystaspes was stereotyped as an apocalyptic prophet, Ostanes was imagined to be a master sorcerer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myndus</span> Ancient Dorian colony of Troezen

Myndus or Myndos was an ancient Dorian colony of Troezen, on the coast of Caria in Asia Minor, (Turkey), sited on the Bodrum Peninsula, a few miles northwest of Halicarnassus. The site is now occupied by the modern village of Gümüşlük.

Percote or Perkote was a town or city of ancient Mysia on the southern (Asian) side of the Hellespont, to the northeast of Troy. Percote is mentioned a few times in Greek mythology, where it plays a very minor role each time. It was said to be the home of a notable seer named Merops, also its ruler. Merops was the father of Arisbe, Cleite, and two sons named Amphius and Adrastus who fought during the Trojan War. As an ally of Troy, Percote sent a contingent to help King Priam during the Trojan War - though this contingent was led not by Merops's sons, but by Asius, son of Hyrtacus, according to Homer's Iliad, one native from Percote was wounded in the Trojan War by Antilochus, two natives from Percote were killed in the Trojan War by Diomedes and Ulysses. The Meropidae instead lead a contingent from nearby Adrastea. A nephew of Priam, named Melanippus, son of Hicetaon, herded cattle (oxen) at Percote, according to Homer.

Mallus was an ancient city of Cilicia Campestris lying near the mouth of the Pyramus river, in Anatolia. In ancient times, the city was situated at the mouth of the Pyramus, on a hill opposite Magarsa which served as its port. The district was named after it, Mallotis. The location of the site is currently inland a few km from the Mediterranean coast on an elevation in the Karataş Peninsula, Adana Province, Turkey, a few km from the city of Karataş.

Ruspe or Ruspae was a town in the Roman province of Byzacena, in Africa propria. It served as the episcopal see of Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe. It is now a Roman Catholic titular bishopric.

<i>Periplus of the Euxine Sea</i> 2nd century guidebook by Arrian

The Periplus of the Euxine Sea is a periplus or guidebook detailing the destinations visitors encounter when traveling about the shore of the Black Sea. It was written by Arrian of Nicomedia from AD 130–131.

Karabiga (Karabuga) is a town (belde) in the Biga District, Çanakkale Province, Turkey. Its population is 2,962 (2021). It is located at the mouth of the Biga River, on a small east-facing bay, known as Karabiga Bay. Its ancient name was Priapus or Priapos.

There are numerous surviving ancient Greek and Latin sources on Alexander the Great, king of Macedon, as well as some Asian texts. The five main surviving accounts are by Arrian, Plutarch, Diodorus Siculus, Quintus Curtius Rufus, and Justin. In addition to these five main sources, there is the Metz Epitome, an anonymous late Latin work that narrates Alexander's campaigns from Hyrcania to India. Much is also recounted incidentally by other authors, including Strabo, Athenaeus, Polyaenus, Aelian, and others. Strabo, who gives a summary of Callisthenes, is an important source for Alexander's journey to Siwah.

Echemenes was an Ancient Greek writer. He is mentioned by Athenaeus as the author of Κρητικἀ, from which a statement relating to the mythical history of Crete is there quoted.

Stephane was a small port town on the coast of ancient Paphlagonia, according to Arrian 180 stadia east of Cimolis, but according to Marcian of Heraclea only 150. The place was mentioned as early as the time of Hecataeus of Miletus as a town of the Mariandyni, under the name of Stephanis (Στεφανίς). The town is also mentioned in the Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax and by the geographer Ptolemy. The name is written Stefano in the Peutinger Table.

Coralla or Koralla was a town of ancient Pontus on a cape of the same name. It is placed by Arrian, and the anonymous author of the Periplus, 100 stadia east of Philocaleia, and Philocaleia is 110 stadia east of Tripolis, a well-known position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oritae</span> Ancient Persian group

The Oritae or Oreitae were a tribe of the sea-coast of Gedrosia, mentioned by several ancient writers.