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{{Short description|Greek orator, writer, philosopher and historian (c. 40 – c. 115)}}
{{distinguish|John Chrysostom}}
[[File:Dio Chrysostom Orationes Johann Jacob Reiske 1784 page 43.jpg|right|thumb|''Orations'' of Dio Chrysostom edited by [[Johann Jakob Reiske]], 1784. Oration 1, ΠΕΡΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΑΣ (''On Kingship'')]]
'''Dio Chrysostom''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|iː|oʊ|_|ˈ|k|r|ɪ|s|ə|s|t|ə|m|,_|k|r|ɪ|ˈ|s|ɒ|s|t|ə|m}}; {{lang-el|[[wikt:Δίων|Δίων]] Χρυσόστομος}} ''Dion Chrysostomos''), '''Dion of Prusa''' or '''Cocceianus Dio''' (c. 40 – c. 115 AD), was a [[Greece|Greek]] orator, writer, philosopher and historian of the [[Roman Empire]] in the 1st century AD. Eighty of his ''Discourses'' (or ''Orations''; {{lang|grc|Λόγοι}}) are extant, as well as a few Letters and a mock essay "In Praise of Hair", as well as a few other fragments. His sobriquet ''Chrysostom'' comes from the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] ''chrysostomos'' (χρυσόστομος), which literally means "golden-mouthed".

==Life==
He was born at Prusa (now [[Bursa]]), in the Roman province of [[Bithynia]] (now part of northwestern [[Turkey]]). His father, Pasicrates, seems to have bestowed great care on his son Dio's education. At first he lived in Prusa, where he held important offices, composed speeches and other [[rhetorical]] and [[sophism|sophistical]] essays, and studied [[philosophy]]. The [[Stoicism|Stoic]] and [[Middle Platonism|Platonist]] philosophies, however, appear to have had the greatest charms for him, particularly the stoicism of [[Gaius Musonius Rufus|Musonius Rufus]].

He went to [[Rome]] during [[Vespasian]]'s reign (69–79 AD), by which time he seems to have got married and had a child.<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/46*.html#13 ''Orat.'' 46.13]</ref> He became a critic of the Emperor [[Domitian]],<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/3*.html#13 ''Orat.'' 3.13]</ref> who banished him from Rome, [[Italy]], and Bithynia in 82 for advising one of the Emperor's conspiring relatives.<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/13*.html#1 ''Orat.'' 13.1]</ref> He claims that, on the advice of the [[Delphic oracle]],<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/13*.html#9 ''Orat.'' 13.9]</ref> he put on the clothes of a [[beggar]],<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/13*.html#11 ''Orat.'' 13.11]</ref> and with nothing in his pocket but a copy of [[Plato]]'s ''[[Phaedo]]'' and [[Demosthenes]]'s ''[[On the False Embassy]]'', he lived the life of a [[Cynicism (philosophy)|Cynic]] philosopher, undertaking a journey to the countries in the north and east of the [[Roman empire]]. He thus visited [[Thrace]], [[Mysia]], [[Scythia]], and the country of the [[Getae]],<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/12*.html#16 ''Orat.'' 12.16]</ref> giving orations.<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/36*.html ''Orat.'' 36]; comp. [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/13*.html#11 ''Orat.'' 13.11 ff.]</ref>

He was a friend of [[Nerva]],<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/45*.html#2 ''Orat.'' 45.2]</ref> and when Domitian was murdered in 96 AD, Dio used his influence with the [[Roman army|army]] stationed on the frontier in favour of Nerva.{{cn|date=February 2022}} Under Emperor Nerva's reign, his exile was ended, and he was able to return home to Prusa. He adopted the surname Cocceianus,<ref name="pliny1">Pliny, ''Epistles,'' [http://www.attalus.org/old/pliny10b.html#81 10.81]</ref> reflecting Nerva's ''[[Nomen gentilicium|nomen]]'', Cocceius. Dio addressed his four ''Orations on Kingship'' to Nerva's successor, [[Trajan]], and appears to have known the Emperor personally, claiming "I am perhaps as well acquainted with your character as anyone."<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/3*.html#2 ''Orat.'' 3.2]</ref> He knew [[Apollonius of Tyana]] and [[Euphrates the Stoic|Euphrates of Tyre]]. In his later life Dio had considerable status in Prusa, and [[Pliny the Younger]] reports that he was involved in a lawsuit about a civic building project around 111.<ref name="pliny1"/> He probably died a few years later.

==Writings==
Dio Chrysostom was part of the [[Second Sophistic]] school of Greek philosophers which reached its peak in the early 2nd century. He was considered one of the most eminent of the Greek [[rhetoric]]ians and [[sophists]] by the ancients who wrote about him, such as [[Philostratus]],<ref name="philost1">Philostratus, ''Vitae sophistorum'' i.7</ref> [[Synesius]],<ref>Synesius, ''Dion''</ref> and [[Photios I of Constantinople|Photius]].<ref>Photius, ''Bibl.'' Cod. 209</ref> This is confirmed by the eighty orations of his which are still extant, and which were the only ones known in the time of Photius. These orations appear to be written versions of his oral teaching, and are like essays on political, moral, and philosophical subjects. They include four orations on [[Kingship]] addressed to [[Trajan]] on the virtues of a sovereign; four on the character of [[Diogenes of Sinope]], on the troubles to which men expose themselves by deserting the path of [[Nature]], and on the difficulties which a sovereign has to encounter; essays on [[slavery]] and [[Political freedom|freedom]]; on the means of attaining eminence as an [[orator]]; [[political]] discourses addressed to various [[town]]s which he sometimes praises and sometimes blames, but always with moderation and wisdom; on subjects of [[ethics]] and practical philosophy, which he treats in a popular and attractive manner; and lastly, orations on [[mythical]] subjects and show-speeches. He argued strongly against permitting [[prostitution]].<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/7*.html#133 ''Orat.'' vii.133‑152]</ref> He also claimed that the epics of [[Homer]] had been translated and were sung in [[India]];<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/53*.html#6 ''Orat.'' liii. 6-8]</ref> this is unlikely to be true, and there may have been confusion with the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the ''[[Ramayana]]'', of which there are some parallels in subject matter.<ref>McEvilley, T., (2002), ''The Shape of Ancient Thought: Comparative Studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies'', page 387. Allworth Communications.</ref> Two orations of his (37 and 64) are now assigned to [[Favorinus]]. Besides the eighty orations we have fragments of fifteen others, and there are extant also five letters under Dio's name.

Dio believed that it was the Trojans that had won the [[Trojan War]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://luwianstudies.org/dio-chrysostom/|title=Dio Chrysostom - Luwian Studies}}</ref> Some modern researchers also agree with this. For example, A. Belyakov and O. Matveychev in their book also adhere to this point of view referring to a number of modern sources.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publications.hse.ru/en/books/140331657|title=Trojan Horse of Western History}}</ref>

He wrote many other philosophical and historical works, none of which survive. One of these works, [[Getica (Dio)|Getica]], was on the [[Getae]],<ref name="philost1"/> which the [[Suda]] incorrectly attributes to [[Dio Cassius]].<ref>Suda, ''Dion''</ref>

==Editions==
* [[Hans von Arnim]], ''Dionis Prusaensis quem uocant Chrysostomum quae exstant omnia'' (Berlin, 1893–1896).
* C. Bost-Pouderon, ''Dion Chrysostome. Trois discours aux villes (Orr. 33-35)'' (Salerne, 2006).
* C. Bost-Pouderon (ed.), ''Dion de Pruse dit Dion Chrysostome. Oeuvres (Or. XXXIII-XXXVI'' (Paris, CUF, 2011).
* Trans. J. W. Cohoon, [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674992832 ''Dio Chrysostom, I, Discourses 1-11''], 1932. Harvard University Press, Loeb Classical Library:
* Trans. J. W. Cohoon, [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674993747 ''Dio Chrysostom, II, Discourses 12-30''], 1939.
* Trans. J. W. Cohoon & H. Lamar Crosby, [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674993952 ''Dio Chrysostom, III, Discourses 31-36''], 1940.
* Trans. H. Lamar Crosby, [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674994140 ''Dio Chrysostom, IV, Discourses 37-60''], 1946.
* Trans. H. Lamar Crosby, [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674994249 ''Dio Chrysostom, V, Discourses 61-80. Fragments. Letters''], 1951.
* H.-G. Nesselrath (ed), ''Dio von Prusa. Der Philosoph und sein Bild'' [Discourses 54-55, 70-72], introduction, critical edition, commentary, translation, and essays by E. Amato et al., Tübingen 2009.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Eugenio Amato, ''Xenophontis imitator fidelissimus. Studi su tradizione e fortuna erudite di Dione Crisostomo tra XVI e XIX secolo'' (Alessandria: Edizioni dell'Orso, 2011) (Hellenica, 40).
* Eugenio Amato, ''Traiani Praeceptor. Studi su biografia, cronologia e fortuna di Dione Crisostomo'' (Besansçon: PUFC, 2014).
* T. Bekker-Nielsen, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120301120432/http://www.pontos.dk/publications/books/black-sea-studies-7 ''Urban Life and Local Politics in Roman Bithynia: The Small World of Dion Chrysostomos''] (Aarhus, 2008).
* P. Desideri, ''Dione di Prusa'' (Messina-Firenze, 1978).
* A. Gangloff, ''Dion Chrysostome et les mythes. Hellénisme, communication et philosophie politique'' (Grenoble, 2006).
* B.F. Harris, "Dio of Prusa", in ''Aufstieg und Niedergang der Römischen Welt'' 2.33.5 (Berlin, 1991), 3853-3881.
* C.P. Jones, ''The Roman World of Dio Chrysostom'' (Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, 1978).
* Simon Swain, ''Hellenism and Empire. Language, Classicism, and Power in the Greek World, AD 50-250'' (Oxford, 1996), 187–241.
* Simon Swain. ''Dio Chrysostom'' (Oxford, 2000).
* Aldo Brancacci, ''Rhetorike philosophousa. Dione Crisostomo nella cultura antica e bizantina'' (Napoli: Bibliopolis, 1986) (Elenchos, 11).

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}

===Texts of Dio===
*[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/home.html Complete works] at [[LacusCurtius]] (English translation complete; some items in Greek also)

===Secondary material===
*[https://www.livius.org/articles/person/dio-chrysostom/ Dio Chrysostom] at [http://www.livius.org Livius.Org]
*[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Introduction*.html Introduction to the Loeb translation] at LacusCurtius

{{Cynics}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chrysostom, Dio}}
[[Category:40 births]]
[[Category:115 deaths]]
[[Category:1st-century Greek people]]
[[Category:2nd-century Greek people]]
[[Category:1st-century Romans]]
[[Category:2nd-century Romans]]
[[Category:1st-century philosophers]]
[[Category:2nd-century philosophers]]
[[Category:1st-century historians]]
[[Category:2nd-century historians]]
[[Category:Roman-era Greek historians]]
[[Category:Roman-era Cynic philosophers]]
[[Category:Roman-era Sophists]]
[[Category:People from Bithynia]]
[[Category:Ancient Greeks in Rome]]
[[Category:Historians from Roman Anatolia]]

Dio Chrysostom - Revision history

176.58.227.208 at 09:34, 14 May 2022