Dio Chrysostom: Difference between revisions

'''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 '''Dio Cocceianus''' (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 funny mock essay "In Praise of Hair", as well as a few other fragments. His surname ''Chrysostom'' comes from the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] ''chrysostomos'' (χρυσόστομος), which literally means "golden-mouthed".

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 and the early training of his mind. At first he occupied himself in his native place, where he held important offices, with the composition of speeches and other [[rhetorical]] and [[sophism|sophistical]] essays, but he later devoted himself with great zeal to the study of [[philosophy]]. He did not, however, confine himself to any particular sect or school, nor did he give himself up to any profound speculations, his object being rather to apply the doctrines of philosophy to the purposes of practical life, and more especially to the administration of public affairs, and thus to bring about a better state of things. The [[Stoicism|Stoic]] and [[Middle Platonism|Platonist]] philosophies, however, appear to have had the greatest charms for him, mainly the stoicism of [[Gaius Musonius Rufus|Musonius Rufus]] who had much influence on him.

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.'' xlvi. 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.'' iii. 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.'' xiii. 1]</ref> 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.'' xiii. 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.'' xiii. 11]</ref> and with nothing in his pocket but a copy of [[Plato]]'s [[Phaedo]] and [[Demosthenes]]'s oration on [[On the False Embassy|the ''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.'' xii. 16]</ref> and owing to the power and wisdom of his orations, he met everywhere with a kindly reception, and did much good.<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/36*.html ''Orat.'' xxxvi.]; comp. [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/13*.html#11 ''Orat.'' xiii. 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.'' xlv. 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. Under Emperor Nerva's reign, his exile was ended, and he was able to return home to Prusa. He adopted the surname Cocceianus in later life to honour the support given to him by the emperor,<ref name="pliny1">Pliny, ''Epistles,'' [http://www.attalus.org/old/pliny10b.html#81 x. 81]</ref> whose full name was Marcus Cocceius Nerva. Nerva's successor, [[Trajan]], entertained the highest esteem for Dio,<ref>Dio Chrysostom, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dio_Chrysostom/Discourses/3*.html#2 ''Orat.'' iii. 2]</ref> and showed him the most marked favour. His kindly disposition gained him many eminent friends, such as [[Apollonius of Tyana]] and [[Euphrates the Stoic|Euphrates of Tyre]], and his oratory the admiration of all. In his later life Dio had considerable status in Prusa, and there are records of him being involved in an urban renewal lawsuit about 111.<ref name="pliny1"/> He probably died a few years later.