Hellenica Oxyrhynchia
Encyclopedia
Hellenica Oxyrhynchia is the name given to a history of the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC in ancient Greece
, of which papyrus
fragments were unearthed at Oxyrhynchus
, in Egypt
. One of the two major fragments, the so-called London papyrus, found in 1906, deals with battles in the late Peloponnesian War
, particularly the Battle of Notium
. The other, the Florentine papyrus, found in 1942, deals with events in the early 4th century. The entire history seems to have been a continuation of Thucydides
covering events from 411 BC to 394 BC.
The discovery of the first papyrus in 1906 led to a shift in the degree of credence which historians assigned to the ancient sources of the period. In the 19th century, Xenophon
, a contemporary of the events he described, was presumed to be universally preferable to the much later Diodorus Siculus
. The Oxyrhynchus historian (named "P." for "papyrus"), however, whose work won praise for its pragmatism and style, was found to agree more with Diodorus's account than with Xenophon's on several key issues. This led to a reevaluation of the values of these sources, and modern historians now prefer Diodorus' account at a number of points.
Modern scholars have debated extensively over P's identity. Among the historians suggested at early stages have been such prominent names as Ephorus
and Theopompus
, but most of these have been strongly objected to on grounds of style, presentation, or subject matter. At present the most likely candidate seems to be Cratippus, an Athenian historian of the 4th century. The style, biases, and coverage (Cratippus's work is known to have been a continuation of Thucydides) support the identification, although issues have been raised. Bruno Bleckmann, an expert on ancient historiography, has pleaded again for Theopompus as the author of the Hellenica.
Whoever he was, the historian P "is a competent and most conscientious historian who derives his material from the best possible sources, makes an effort to interpret it impartially, but somehow lacks distinction in thought and style. He is a second-rate Thucydides," H.D. Westlake observed.
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
, of which papyrus
Papyrus
Papyrus is a thick paper-like material produced from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge that was once abundant in the Nile Delta of Egypt....
fragments were unearthed at Oxyrhynchus
Oxyrhynchus
Oxyrhynchus is a city in Upper Egypt, located about 160 km south-southwest of Cairo, in the governorate of Al Minya. It is also an archaeological site, considered one of the most important ever discovered...
, in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. One of the two major fragments, the so-called London papyrus, found in 1906, deals with battles in the late Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases...
, particularly the Battle of Notium
Battle of Notium
The Battle of Notium in 406 BC, was a Spartan naval victory in the Peloponnesian War. Prior to the battle, the Athenian commander, Alcibiades, left his helmsman, Antiochus, in command of the Athenian fleet, which was blockading the Spartan fleet in Ephesus...
. The other, the Florentine papyrus, found in 1942, deals with events in the early 4th century. The entire history seems to have been a continuation of Thucydides
Thucydides
Thucydides was a Greek historian and author from Alimos. His History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 BC...
covering events from 411 BC to 394 BC.
The discovery of the first papyrus in 1906 led to a shift in the degree of credence which historians assigned to the ancient sources of the period. In the 19th century, Xenophon
Xenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
, a contemporary of the events he described, was presumed to be universally preferable to the much later Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian who flourished between 60 and 30 BC. According to Diodorus' own work, he was born at Agyrium in Sicily . With one exception, antiquity affords no further information about Diodorus' life and doings beyond what is to be found in his own work, Bibliotheca...
. The Oxyrhynchus historian (named "P." for "papyrus"), however, whose work won praise for its pragmatism and style, was found to agree more with Diodorus's account than with Xenophon's on several key issues. This led to a reevaluation of the values of these sources, and modern historians now prefer Diodorus' account at a number of points.
Modern scholars have debated extensively over P's identity. Among the historians suggested at early stages have been such prominent names as Ephorus
Ephorus
Ephorus or Ephoros , of Cyme in Aeolia, in Asia Minor, was an ancient Greek historian. Information on his biography is limited; he was the father of Demophilus, who followed in his footsteps as a historian, and to Plutarch's claim that Ephorus declined Alexander the Great's offer to join him on his...
and Theopompus
Theopompus
Theopompus was a Greek historian and rhetorician- Biography :Theopompus was born on Chios. In early youth he seems to have spent some time at Athens, along with his father, who had been exiled on account of his Laconian sympathies...
, but most of these have been strongly objected to on grounds of style, presentation, or subject matter. At present the most likely candidate seems to be Cratippus, an Athenian historian of the 4th century. The style, biases, and coverage (Cratippus's work is known to have been a continuation of Thucydides) support the identification, although issues have been raised. Bruno Bleckmann, an expert on ancient historiography, has pleaded again for Theopompus as the author of the Hellenica.
Whoever he was, the historian P "is a competent and most conscientious historian who derives his material from the best possible sources, makes an effort to interpret it impartially, but somehow lacks distinction in thought and style. He is a second-rate Thucydides," H.D. Westlake observed.
See also
- Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 28Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 28Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 28 consists of fragments of the third book of Hellenica by Xenophon, written in Greek. It was discovered by Grenfell and Hunt in 1897 in Oxyrhynchus. The fragment is dated to the second century. It is housed in the library of the University of St Andrews...
– manuscript of HellenicaHellenica (Xenophon)Hellenica simply means writings on Greek— Hellenic— subjects. Several histories of fourth-century Greece, written in the mold of Thucydides or straying from it, have borne the conventional Latin title Hellenica...
of Xenophon