Diodorus Siculus: Library of History, Volume I, Books 1-2.34 (Loeb Classical Library No. 279) [Hardcover]

Diodorus Siculus (Author), C. H. Oldfather (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0674993071 | ISBN-13: 978-0674993075 | Publication Date: January 1, 1933

Diodorus Siculus, Greek historian of Agyrium in Sicily, ca. 80–20 BCE, wrote forty books of world history, called Library of History, in three parts: mythical history of peoples, non-Greek and Greek, to the Trojan War; history to Alexander's death (323 BCE); history to 54 BCE. Of this we have complete Books I–V (Egyptians, Assyrians, Ethiopians, Greeks) and Books XI–XX (Greek history 480–302 BCE); and fragments of the rest. He was an uncritical compiler, but used good sources and reproduced them faithfully. He is valuable for details unrecorded elsewhere, and as evidence for works now lost, especially writings of Ephorus, Apollodorus, Agatharchides, Philistus, and Timaeus.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Diodorus Siculus is in twelve volumes.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Loeb Classical Library (January 1, 1933)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674993071
• ISBN-13: 978-0674993075
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,311,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Exciting Blend of Myth and History, November 30, 2002

By 

Jonathan Bailey (Lawton, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diodorus Siculus: Library of History, Volume I, Books 1-2.34 (Loeb Classical Library No. 279) (Hardcover)

I have purchased a very large number of the Loeb Clasical Library series, usually as materials for research. Very rarely do I read an ancient author from cover to cover for enjoyment. This book have proven to be every bit as gripping as a modern novel.

I originally bought the book solely for the purpose of having a sample of Hellenistic Greek that I could compare with the grammar of the New Testament. I really had not planned to even occasionally use the volume as a reference. Upon receiving the book, though, I opened it up and read a little of the English just to get a sense of the work in general. I was hooked from the very first pages.

As a historian, Diodorus has often been criticized for employment of unreliable sources, lack of discrimination, and a poor organization of material. Part of the general scholarly distaste for Diodorus results one one hand from his free intermingling of what is clearly mythology with history. On the other hand, huge sections of his history are organized year by year, so that he describes what happens in a given year in every empire that he covers. The year-by-year organization does not begin until about book five, however. The initial books of his history cover the origins and characteristics of various major races and nations of his world, and as mentioned above, incorporate great elements of fancy. It is these elements that have made his series so interesting to read, however.

It is obvious that Bulfinch's Mythology and other standard works on Greek mythology draw much material from Diodorus Siculous, and reading it definitely makes one feel like he is walking along the paths of the scholars.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient History narrated by Diodorus Siculus, August 23, 2007

By 

Matajimaya "Mary" (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Diodorus Siculus: Library of History, Volume I, Books 1-2.34 (Loeb Classical Library No. 279) (Hardcover)

Although Diodorus was not a Historian as we understand it nowadays, his writings are extremely useful to the knowledge of the History of Asia Minor, Middle East, Greece and India. This book offers a new translation in comprehensible English with commentaries and references that are useful to the scholar in his/her research. In addition, it brings us back to Ancient Times and shows us that, after all, they are not so ancient, and there is nothing new under the sun.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very recommendable book, April 15, 2000

By 

SEBASTIANVS "libra64" (TOKYO Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diodorus Siculus: Library of History, Volume I, Books 1-2.34 (Loeb Classical Library No. 279) (Hardcover)

One of the most interesting classical texts. If you are interested in Greek myth, legend, history and culture, you must read this series !