Diodorus Siculus

Diodorus Siculus (Diodōros ho Sikeliōtēs) [ca. 90/80 BCE, city of Agyrium (Sicily) – ca. 29/21 BCE] was a Greek historian.

He spent most of his life in Rome and traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia. He authored a monumental work titled Historical Library, consisting of 40 books, of which Books I–V and XI–XX have survived in full, while the rest are preserved in fragmentary form.

Among Diodorus’ writings, the material concerning Georgia is particularly noteworthy. He describes the evolution of Medea’s character, attributing changes in her portrayal to external influences—such as her praying to a Colchian moon goddess in the “Colchian” tongue.

Also significant are his accounts of Ninus of Assyria’s conquests of tribes along the Pontic coast. The campaigns of Cyrus and the tribes of the southeastern Black Sea region are described primarily based on Xenophon’s Anabasis, though Diodorus also provides new material. According to Diodorus's Library, Alexander the Great never invaded Georgia.

Literary works: Diodori Bibliotheca historica..., v. 1–5, ed. J. Teubner, Lipsiae, 1888–1906; Diodorus of Sicily, Works, Camb. (Mass.) – L., 1968.

Literature: ყაუხჩიშვილი თ., ბერძენი მწერლების ცნობები საქართველოს შესახებ, [ტ.] 3, თბ., 1976 (გარეკანზე: 1977).

T. Kaukhchishvili