Silenus from Kaleakte
Silenus of Kaleakte (also Kaleakte ) was an ancient Greek historian . He lived in the 3rd / 2nd Century BC Chr.
Silenus came from Kaleakte in Sicily. Like Sosylos, he was a companion of Hannibal during his campaigns. Cornelius Nepos writes about this: Many have recorded Hannibal's war acts, including two who accompanied him on his campaigns and lived with him as long as fate permitted, Silenus and the Lacedaemonian Sosylos.
Silenus wrote two historical works, Sikelika (a history of Sicily in at least four books) and a contemporary historical work, of which only very few fragments have survived . The contemporary history work possibly served as an official "Hannibal story". In both works a pro-Carthaginian point of view was perhaps represented, which may to a large extent explain Polybius' criticism of various "Hannibal historians", such as the aforementioned Sosylos and an otherwise unknown Chaireas . One of these historians was probably Eumachos of Naples , whom Polybius did not mention, nor did Silenus. The work of Silenus was also used by Roman authors and served Lucius Coelius Antipater as an important source. In Felix Jacoby's opinion , the Hannibal story of Silenus was written quite neutrally and enjoyed some popularity.
Silenus seems to have given some space to divine omens, dreams and even monsters. He is by Klaus Meister therefore referred to as a typical representative of the "Sensation Hellenistic History"; Whether this characterization is correct, however, appears to be questionable, since the few fragments do not allow a final assessment.
Text output
- The Fragments of the Greek Historians , No. 175.
literature
- Felix Jacoby : Silenos 1. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume III A, 1, Stuttgart 1927, Sp. 53-56.
- Klaus Meister : Annibale in Sileno . In: Maia 23, 1971, ISSN 0025-0538 , pp. 3-9.
- Klaus Meister: The Greek historiography. From the beginning to the end of Hellenism. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart et al. 1990, ISBN 3-17-010264-8 , p. 145.
- Frank W. Walbank : A Historical Commentary on Polybius. 3 volumes. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1957-1979.
Remarks
- ↑ Cornelius Nepos, Hannibal 13.3 ( online translation ).
- ↑ Polybios 3:20.
- ↑ Jacoby, RE III A, 1, Col. 54f.
- ↑ Klaus Meister: The Greek History Writing , Stuttgart et al. 1990, p. 145.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Silenus from Kaleakte |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Silenus; Silenus from Kale nudes |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | ancient Greek historian |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 3rd century BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | 2nd century BC Chr. |