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

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{{Short description|Greek orator, writer, philosopher and historian (c. 40 – c. 115)}}
[[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}}; {{langx|grc|Δίων Χρυσόστομος}} ''Dion Chrysostomos''), '''Dio 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, a mock essay ''Encomium on Hair'', and a few other fragments. His [[sobriquet]] ''Chrysostom'' comes from the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] {{Transliteration|grc|chrysostomos}}, which literally means "golden-mouthed".

==Life==
He was born at [[Prusa (Bithynia)|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 during the [[Nerva–Antonine dynasty|Antonine]] period. 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> Two orations of his (37 and 64) are now assigned to [[Favorinus]].{{cn|date=March 2023}} Besides the eighty orations we have fragments of fifteen others, and there are extant also five letters under Dio's name.

He wrote many other philosophical and historical works, none of which survives. 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==
'''Editions and translations of the full oeuvre'''
* [[Hans von Arnim]], ''Dionis Prusaensis quem uocant Chrysostomum quae exstant omnia'' (Berlin, 1893–1896).
* 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.
* Winfried Elliger, ''Dion Chrysostomos, Sämtliche Reden. Eingeleitet, übersetzt und erläutert'' (Zürich, 1967).

'''Editions, translations and commentaries of single works'''
* 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).
* Gustav Adolf Lehmann et al., ''Armut – Arbeit – Menschenwürde. Die Euböische Rede des Dion von Prusa'' [Discourse 7], introduction, critical edition, commentary, translation, and essays (Tübingen 2012).
* [[Heinz-Günther 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).
* Anna Nieschler, ''Der Borysthenitikos des Dion von Prusa. Einleitung und Kommentar'' [Discourse 36], introduction and commentary (Stuttgart, 2024), {{ISBN|978-3-515-13681-5}}.

==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).
* Aldo Brancacci, ''Rhetorike philosophousa. Dione Crisostomo nella cultura antica e bizantina'' (Napoli: Bibliopolis, 1986) (Elenchos, 11).
* 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).
*{{cite journal |last1=Sidebottom |first1=Harry |title=Dio of Prusa and the Flavian Dynasty |journal=The Classical Quarterly |date=1996 |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=447–456 |doi=10.1093/cq/46.2.447 |jstor=639801 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/639801 |issn=0009-8388|url-access=subscription }}
* Simon Swain, ''Hellenism and Empire. Language, Classicism, and Power in the Greek World, AD 50–250'' (Oxford, 1996), 187–241.
* Simon Swain. ''Dio Chrysostom: Politics, Letters, and Philosophy'' (Oxford, 2000).
*{{cite journal |last1=Ventrella |first1=Gianluca |title=Dione di Prusa fu realmente esiliato? L'orazione tredicesima tra idealizzazione letteraria e reconstruzione storico-giuridica (con un'appendice di E. Amato) |journal=Emerita |date=2009 |volume=77 |issue=1 |pages=33–56 |doi=10.3989/emerita.2009.v77.i1.305|doi-access=free }}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=Volpe |editor1-first=Paola |editor2-last=Ferrari |editor2-first=Franco |title=Ricerche su Dione di Prusa |date=2001 |publisher=Luciano Editore |location=Naples |pages=99–153 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=56pfAAAAMAAJ |chapter=L’ Euboico di Dione di Prusa: coscienza della crisi ed etica della filantropia}}

==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
{{Works of Dio Chrysostom|state=collapsed}}
{{Cynics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chrysostom, Dio}}
[[Category:40s births]]
[[Category:115 deaths]]
[[Category:1st-century Romans]]
[[Category:2nd-century Romans]]
[[Category:1st-century Greek philosophers]]
[[Category:2nd-century Greek philosophers]]
[[Category:1st-century historians]]
[[Category:2nd-century historians]]
[[Category:Greek-language historians from the Roman Empire]]
[[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

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