Memnon of Heraclea

Memnon of Heraclea was an ancient Greek ( local) historian.

Memnon probably came from Heraclea Pontica, dates of his life are not known precisely; Guesses range from the time of Gaius Julius Caesar to the early 2nd century. He wrote a history of this city, called Περὶ Ἡρακλείας ( Perì ʰ ērakleias " About Heraclea " ) from which the books 9 to 16 the Byzantine patriarch Photius ( 9th century ) templates for his excerpt from Memnon.

The ninth book of Memnon's work begins with the beginning of tyranny in Heraclea during the years 364/63 BC and first treated only this city events in question. From about 335 BC the general history of the East of the Diadochi is also shown more and more. From the 14th book, the history of the Roman Republic is also involved with since its early days. The insertion ends with the Battle of Magnesia 190 BC The relatively detailed discussion of the Third Mithridatic War ( Chapter 23-37 ) contains numerous historically relevant details. Photius ' excerpt ends 47 BC with the return of the Roman general Gaius Iulius Caesar to Italy. According to information from Photios was followed on the 16th book even more. Therefore, it is not known at what time ended Memnon's work and how much the books it included a total.

Memnon served, according to Photios a clear and almost - sober style and used the herakleotischen ( local) historiographer Nymphis of Heraclea ( FGrH 432, to 247/246 BC ) and possibly Domitios Kallistratos ( FGrH 433 ) as templates. He is the only author of a local history of the Hellenistic era, whose work has remained even if only in part, preserved.

Issues / translations

• Felix Jacoby: The fragments of Greek historians ( FGrH ), No. 434
• Arthur Keaveney, John A. Madden: Memnon. In: Brill 's New Jacoby, # 434 ( text with English translation and commentary ).
• English translation by Andrew Smith ( 2004) History of Heraclea online on attalus.org