Ion of Chios
The poet, in particular playwright Ion of Chios, (* 490 BC on the Greek island of Chios; † 423/22 BC or 422/421 BC), due to the mainly biographical information of its versatile literary production also counted among the historians.
Life
He bore his name by Ion, who was the progenitor of the Ionians, according to Greek mythology. When about fifteen years old he was sent by his father to Athens to train and found recording in the house of Cimon, to his life he maintained a friendly relationship. He seems to have returned after the training period repeatedly to several years of visits to Athens and came up with a number of leading personalities from politics ( Cimon, Themistocles, Pericles ), philosophy (Socrates ) and art (eg, Sophocles and Aeschylus ) in personal Contact.
With Euripides, the latest of the famous classical Greek tragedians, he stretched himself 429 BC at the Festival in honor of the god Dionysus in a poetic contest ( agon ), which was regularly performed 455-408 BC. For performance were called tetralogies, each consisting of three tragedies and one satyr play rather grotesque. Had Ion 429 with the third place even in the cold behind Euripides, who finished with the traditional Hippolytus the first place, and behind an unknown Second, he could win the contest the following year. Out of gratitude and joy at this success, he is in every citizen of Athens, at that time about 20,000, a glass of wine his native Chios have donated.
Work
From the works of the ion, as merely handed down from the most ancient authors fragments. From other writers and historians are his twelve, according to other sources attributed to 30 or even 40 tragedies - in addition also Dithyramben and lyrical songs, comedies, epigrams, paeans and hymns, Skolien, Enkomien and elegies.
At prose writings may be mentioned:
" The embassy report " ( " Presbeutikos " or " Synekdemetikos " ) - Apparently, the tragedians had participated in an embassy and a report on his observations made in which he characterized the negotiation partner.
" The colonization of Chios " - A local history of his native Chios, which begins at the mythical past: Poseidon begot then with a nymph on the island to a son and named this as "due to the contractions of the nymph snow [ Chion ] from heaven to earth fell ", Chios. However, after further mythological genealogies then follow details of an invasion of the Carians on the island, then using the apparently historical persons Amphiklos or the chiischen ruler Hector - and evidence of a historical process: the participation of the latter to the " Panionia " where he allegedly received even " award for outstanding bravery " a tripod.
" Kosmologikos " (or " Triagmos " ) - Philosophical writing of unknown content.
" Hypomnemata " / " Epidemiai " ( translated by Kurt von Fritz with " presence at various locations " ) - Biographical characterizations of personally familiar with Ion personalities including Cimon, Themistocles, Pericles, Socrates and Sophocles, as well as well-known locations. The quotes obtained from this work mainly come from Plutarch, but is believed in modern research that it was also used by other authors. Originally a memoirs, fragments also have relevance for the related contemporary history.
In the Apology of Socrates, Plato are some thoughts and aphorisms of ion again.
Swell
- Felix Jacoby: The fragments of Greek historians, No. 392
- Plato: Apology of Socrates, Crito, Ion, Hippias II, Theages, Alcibiades I, Laches, Charmides, Euthyphro, Protagoras, Gorgias, Meno, Hippias I, Euthydemus, Menexemos. Rowohlt, Reinbek 1994 ISBN 3-499-55561-1 ( translation by Friedrich Schleiermacher 1804-1810 )