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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. Book I Introduction to Books I‐II.34 Egypt: the origin of the world and of civilized life: the gods, the first men. Egypt: the land, the Nile and its flooding. 30 1 The land of Egypt stretches in a general way from north to south, and in natural strength and beauty of landscape is reputed to excel in no small degree all other regions that have been formed into kingdoms. 2 For on the west it is fortified by the desert of Libya, which is full of wild beasts and extends along its border for a long distance, and by reason of its lack of rain and want of every kind of food makes the passage through it not only toilsome but even highly dangerous; while on the south the same protection is afforded by the cataracts of the Nile and the mountains flanking them, 3 since from p99 the country of the Trogodytes1 and the farthest parts of Ethiopia, over a distance of five thousand five hundred stades, it is not easy to sail by the river or to journey by land, unless a man is fitted out like a king or at least on a very great scale. 4 And as for the parts of the country facing the east, some are fortified by the river and some are embraced by a desert and a swampy flat called the Barathra.2 For between Coele-Syria and Egypt there lies a lake, quite narrow, but marvellously deep and some two hundred stades in length, which is called Serbonis3 and offers unexpected perils to those who approach it in ignorance of its nature. 5 For since the body of the water is narrow, like a ribbon, and surrounded on all sides by great dunes, when there are constant south winds great quantities of sand are strewn over it. This sand hides the surface of the water and makes the outline of the lake continuous with the solid land and entirely indistinguishable from it. 6 For this reason many who were unacquainted with the peculiar nature of the place have disappeared together with whole armies,4 when they wandered from the beaten road. 7 For as the sand is walked upon it gives way but gradually, deceiving with a kind of malevolent cunning those p101 who advance upon it, until, suspecting some impending mishap, they begin to help one another only when it is no longer possible to turn back or escape. 8 For anyone who has been sucked in by the mire cannot swim, since the slime prevents all movement of the body, nor is he able to wade out, since he has no solid footing; for by reason of the mixing of the sand with the water and the consequent change in the nature of both it comes about that the place cannot be crossed either on foot or by boat. 9 Consequently those who enter upon these regions are borne towards the depths and have nothing to grasp to give them help, since the sand along the edge slips in with them. These flats have received a name appropriate to their nature as we have described it, being called Barathra. Egypt: the first kings Egypt: customs and religion Mesopotamia: Ninus, Semiramis, the wonders of Babylon; Sardanapalus, Chaldaean astrology Book II India, Scythia, Arabia, and the islands of the Ocean Book III Contents of the Third Book of Diodorus Ethiopia and the gold mines of Egypt The coasts of the Arabian Gulf: inhabitants The coasts of the Arabian Gulf: animals Libya, the Gorgons, the Amazons; Ammon and Atlas Libyan and other myths about Dionysus Theseus, the Seven against Thebes Book V Sicily, Malta, Corsica, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands Britain, Basileia (identified today as Helgoland), Gaul, Celtiberia, Iberia, Liguria, Tyrrhenia The islands in the Southern Ocean: Hiera and Panchaea The Greek islands Before the Trojan War: Salmoneus, Admetus, Bellerophon The period just before and after the Trojan War: Orpheus, Aeneas; Romulus and early Roman history Eusebius, Chronicle7 Eusebius, Chronicle17 Kings of Lacedaemon from the Books of Diodorus 11 1 Eusebius, Chronicle22 Eusebius, Chronicle33 Early history of Messene, Croton, Sybaris, Rome, Cyrene Stories of the Seven Wise Men; Croesus, Cyrus Servius Tullius, Pythagoras, Cambyses, Polycrates of Samos, Zeno, the Tarquins, Themistocles A few very small fragments of uncertain provenience Book XI War between Carthage and Sicily, won by Gelon. War between Greeks and Persians, Greek victory at Plataea Rise of Athens under Themistocles, construction of the Piraeus Wars of the Greek city-states; Egyptian revolt against Persia Book XII 450‐416 B.C.: Athenian campaigns against Cyprus and Boeotia. The founding of Thurii Rome: the Decemvirate. In Greece, revolts against the Athenians, various wars; outbreak of the Peloponnesian War Further revolts against the Athenians; Peloponnesian War Wars of the Athenians Book XIII 415‐405 B.C. : War between Athens and Syracuse Consequences of the Athenian defeat in the Syracusan War War between Athens and Sparta. The career of Alcibiades. Carthaginian war against Sicily Alcibiades. Carthaginian war against Sicily Dionysius tyrant of Syracuse. Athens the victor in the naval battle of Aeginusae; she puts her generals to death, and loses the battles that follow: end of the Peloponnesian War Book XIV Persia: the revolt of Cyrus Death of Socrates. Greek wars in Asia Minor War between Carthage and Sicily Various Greek wars; end of the war between Carthage and Sicily Siege of Rhegium; coalition of the Italian Greeks against Dionysius; peace of Antalcidas The Gauls capture Rome Book XV Various Greek wars The Boeotian War War between Sparta and Thebes, ending with the Theban victory of Leuctra The Theban invasions of the Peloponnese; various Greek wars Various Greek wars; career of Epaminondas Book XVI 360-336 B.C. : Rise of Philip of Macedon; in Syracuse, Dion defeats Dionysius The Sacred War and Philip's involvement in Greek affairs Artaxerxes regains Egypt, Phoenicia, and Cyprus; end of the Phocian War Introduction to Volume VIII Sources and Character of the Narrative, Book XVI Sources and Character of the Narrative, Book XVII The career of Timoleon; Philip consolidates his power in Greece, but is assassinated BOOK XVII Introduction to Books XVIII‐XX Note on Chronology Contents of Part Two 335-324 B.C. : Rise of Alexander the Great: Greece Alexander's invasion of Asia: battle of the Granicus, sieges of Miletus and Halicarnassus, battle of Issus The career of Alexander: the siege of Tyre, the occupation of Egypt, his journey to the oracle of Ammon; defeat of Darius at Arbela Alexander in Babylon; the burning of Persepolis; death of Darius. The conspiracy of Parmenio Alexander's campaigns in Sogdiana, Bactria, and India The marvels of India. Alexander's return to Babylon, where he dies BOOK XVIII 323-318 B.C. : Struggles of successors of Alexander after his death The translation of Alexander's body to Egypt. Rise of Ptolemy Wars among the successors of Alexander BOOK XIX 317-311 BC : The rise of Agathocles, tyrant of Syracuse Antigonus fights and eventually vanquishes an assortment of other generals The doings of Cassander: the murder of Olympias, the razing of Thebes (again) The varying fortunes of Cassander in Greece, the Adriatic, and Caria. Acrotatus, tyrant of Sicily Ptolemy's campaigns and his victory over Demetrius. Seleucus gains control of Babylon. Antigonus in Coelê Syria and Arabia. An account of the Dead Sea. The Romans war against the Samnites Further doings of Agathocles, most of them pretty horrible; Sicily gets assistance against him from Carthage. The murder of Roxane and her son Alexander BOOK XX 310-302 BC: Agathocles' Libyan campaign Ptolemy against Cilicia, the Carthaginians against Sicily and Agathocles' mixed successes against them Demetrius against Ptolemy; Agathocles master of most of Sicily Antigonus's failed Egyptian campaign; Demetrius' siege of Rhodes, eventually abandoned Demetrius frees much of Greece; the grand coalition against Antigonus, with successes by Ptolemy and Seleucus Books XXI‐XXXII History of the Fragments The Present Edition The Manuscripts p. xxv Sigla Fragments: Diodorus: Book 33- translation Diodorus: Books 34+35 Diodorus: Book 36 Diodorus: Book 37 Diodorus: Books 38+39 1 4a All vice should be shunned by men of intelligence, but especially greed, for this vice, because of the expectation of profit, prompts many to injustice and becomes the cause of very great evils to mankind. Hence, since it is a very metropolis1 of unjust acts, it brings many great misfortunes not only on private citizens but even on the greatest kings.2 Diodorus: Book 40