Onesicritus: Difference between revisions

We learn from [[Diogenes Laërtius]]<ref>Diogenes Laërtius, vi. 84</ref> that Onesicritus wrote a work about Alexander called ''How Alexander was Educated'' ({{lang-el|Πῶς Ἀλέξανδρος Ἤχθη}}), imitating the style of [[Xenophon]], though he fell short of him as a copy does of the original.<ref>Diogenes Laërtius, vi. 84; Suda, ''Onesicritos''.</ref> It is most frequently cited in regard to the campaigns of Alexander in Asia, and for descriptions of the countries that he visited. Though an eye-witness of much that he described, it appears that he intermixed many fables and falsehoods with his narrative, so that he early fell into discredit as an authority. [[Strabo]] is especially severe upon him.<ref>Strabo, xv., comp. ii.</ref> [[Plutarch]] cites him as one of those who related the fable of the visit of the [[Amazons]] to Alexander, for which he was justly ridiculed by [[Lysimachus]],<ref name="Plutarch, Alex. 46"/> and [[Arrian]] accuses him of falsely representing himself as the commander of the fleet, when he was in truth only the pilot.<ref>Arrian, ''Anab.'' vi. 2. § 6</ref> [[Aulus Gellius]]<ref>Aulus Gellius, ix. 4</ref> even associates him with [[Aristeas of Proconnesus]], and other purely fabulous writers. But it is clear that these censures are overcharged; and though some of the statements cited from him are certainly gross exaggerations,<ref>see for instance Strabo, xv. p. 698; Aelian. ''H. N.'' xvi. 39, xvii. 6</ref> his work appears to have contained much valuable information concerning the remote countries for the first time laid open by the expedition of Alexander. In particular he was the first author that mentioned the island of [[Taprobane]],<ref>Strabo, xv. p. 691; Pliny, ''H. N.'' vi. 24.</ref> which is known today as Sri Lanka.

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