07-25-2006, 11:59 AM
Thanks for all contributions, which will help me phrase one section in my book.
As to the reliability of Diodorus, last week, Christopher Tuplin wrote this nice piece. I think we must start to revaluate him. Of course, Diodorus is often inaccurate when he has no good source (e.g., choosing Ctesias as source for Near-Eastern history was an error), but Diodorus' choice of Ephorus was not a bad one. And when he's talking about Sicily, I think that the burden of proof rests with those who disagree with Diodorus.
Quote:But how far to trust Pliny, since he cites Thucydides for naming the Corinthians as inventors of the 3,Pliny often refers to conflicting evidence, but in this particular case does not endorse one view; he cites Thucydides, and does not say that he was right.
As to the reliability of Diodorus, last week, Christopher Tuplin wrote this nice piece. I think we must start to revaluate him. Of course, Diodorus is often inaccurate when he has no good source (e.g., choosing Ctesias as source for Near-Eastern history was an error), but Diodorus' choice of Ephorus was not a bad one. And when he's talking about Sicily, I think that the burden of proof rests with those who disagree with Diodorus.
