Dexippus

Publius Herennius Dexippus, mostly Dexippos called (* 210, † 275 ), was an ancient Greek- Roman politician and historian of the 3rd century. Although his historical works only a few fragments have been preserved, it is considered an important historian of his time.

Life

Dexippos came from the upper class of Athens and the Athenian demos Hermus. His father was an inscription, according to Publius Herennius Ptolemy. Dexippos also had several brothers and sisters, about whom nothing is known but on. The family seems to have not only been quite wealthy, but also has to have some political influence. Because of inscriptions is known that Dexippos itself has held several high municipal offices, the exact chronology is unclear. He was Agonothet ( judge ) at the Panathenaic festival in Athens also Archon Basileus and finally eponymous archon. He is said to have also earned 267 in the fight against the advancing to Athens Heruli. However, it is disputed whether Dexippos himself took part in the fighting.

Works

Dexippos is donated to one of his children and the Areopagus approved inscription praised as a learned historian, who has been acquired through his historical writings great fame. It is known that Dexippos has written three works of history, but they are not completely preserved:

  • A history of the Diadochi in four books, which probably was mainly based on the lost history Arrian over this period due to the statement of Photius, which in addition to numerous other works templates also the Dexippos. Maybe it was a kind of exercise work before Dexippos turned to broader historical themes, but can not say anything more precise.
  • A universal historical chronicle in 12 books. From the work of relatively few fragments survive. It ranged from the mythical period to about 270 and was continued by Eunapius of Sardis to 404. Why Dexippos chose this period is unknown. There is some debate in the research, whether it was traded to a full-fledged work of history, or rather a purely chronological, concise narrative. In more recent research, it is considered likely that the Chronicle presented a mixed form. Based on the resulting fragments can be seen that Dexippos has endeavored to chronological accuracy. Historical events of the early days were rather summarily reproduced while later events were described in more detail. He also seems to have installed criticism of previous historians and short excursions.
  • A titled as Skythika representation of the German wars of his time. The title is derived from the classic ethnographic notions of Greek historians. Thus, under the heading Skythai were combined foreign nations in the Black Sea region ( " Scythians "). At least the Skythika wrote Dexippos probably only in old age. The work probably covered the period from about 238 to about 274. The two statements are inferred from the fragments, but these are not absolutely reliable, since the beginning based on a statement in the Historia Augusta often quite unreliable, while for the end only estimates ( probably after 271) are possible. It was here in any case for a comprehensive description, including speeches and digressions.

Dexippos oriented stylistically heavily on Thucydides (from Photius, he was praised even as a "second Thucydides " ) and chose for his chronicle a annalistisches structure principle, which has been criticized by some Eunapius. Dexippos apparently focused primarily on the Greek-speaking world of the East and gave the events in the West less attention. He has a total of reliable information, although its classical approach sometimes obstructs the view of the action. In the contemporary historical Skythika Dexippos offered detailed descriptions of his time, also focuses on the Greek East, where the Germanic classical designated by Dexippos as Skythai invaded the Roman Empire. Probably Dexippos wanted to highlight the successful local defense efforts, but his works were also determined for a Greek audience. However, he treated partly defensive successes of the Romans in the West.

Themselves are the fragments of high value for the source of poor time of the third century. If the entire plant survived, they probably possessed an excellent source to bring light into the darkness that surrounds the so-called imperial crisis of the 3rd century today. Thus, by other historians, this period is often only the name is known, as in the case of Nikostratos of Trebizond and the younger Ephorus of Kyme, while a few fragments remain of the works of Eusebius and Philostratus of Athens.

Dexippos served several later historians ( directly or via an intermediate source) as an important source. Among other things, the writing around 500 Zosimus used Dexippos for the beginning of his Historia Nea. The anonymous author of the Historia Augusta late antiquity seems to have also used the works of Dexippos; but maybe he only used the chronicle or a promoting intermediate source. Still, the Byzantine chronicler Georgios Synkellos in the late 9th century 8./frühen quoted Dexippos.

Expenditure

  • The fragments of the Greek historians, No. 100 and Brill 's New Jacoby ( with English translation and commentary )
  • Gunther Martin: Dexipp of Athens. Edition, translation and accompanying studies. Tübingen 2006 ( with a new count of the fragments).
664560
de