Marsyas of Pella

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Marsyas of Pella ( Greek Μαρσύας Marsýas ; † after 306 BC) was an ancient Macedonian historian . He lived in the late 4th century BC. Chr.

Marsyas, son of Periander, came from Pella . On his mother's side he was a half-brother of the general and later Diadoch ruler Antigonos Monophthalmos . He was a childhood companion ( syntrophos ) of Prince Alexander , whom he accompanied on his campaign in Asia . In the Diadoch Wars in 306 BC he took As a naval officer ( nauarchos ) at the side of his nephew Demetrios Poliorketes in the battle of Salamis (Cyprus). He probably died in the early 3rd century BC. Chr.

Apparently in old age Marsyas was active as the author of three works. In addition to a treatise on the upbringing of the young Alexander and a history of Attica in twelve books, he also wrote ten books on the history of Macedonia ( Macedonica ) from its beginnings under King Karanos to the return of Alexander from Egypt in 331 BC. Where the narrative ends abruptly. These works have only survived in fragments. He should not be confused with the younger historian of the same name Marsyas von Philippi , who also wrote about Macedonian history.

News about Marsyas can be found in Plutarch , Diodorus and in the Suda .

Text output

literature

  • Hans Gärtner: Marsyas 2. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 3, Stuttgart 1969, column 1052.
  • Waldemar Heckel : Marsyas of Pella, Historian of Macedon. In: Hermes Vol. 108, 1980, pp. 444-462

Remarks

  1. ↑ The Fragments of the Greek Historians No. 136.
  2. ↑ Plutarch, Moralia 182c.
  3. ↑ Diodorus 20, 50, 4.
  4. ↑ Suda M 227.
personal data
SURNAME Marsyas of Pella
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Marsyas; Μαρσύας (Greek)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ancient Macedonian historian
DATE OF BIRTH 4th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH after 306 BC Chr.