Diodorus Siculus, Book XX

Version: 6 (current) | Updated: 12/2/2025, 10:03:25 PM

Added description

Description

Diodorus Siculus, Book XX

Overview

Diodorus Siculus, Book XX is a Greek narrative from the Bibliotheca historica (3rd century BC). The surviving manuscript, held by the Alexander Institute, is in the public domain and is available through the PINAX digital repository. The book covers the years 304‑303 BC, detailing military and political events in the Hellenistic world.

Background

Diodorus Siculus (c. 90‑c. 30 BC) compiled a universal history in Greek. Book XX was composed during the early 3rd century BC, a period of intense conflict among the successor states of Alexander the Great. The Alexander Institute preserves the text in its original language, reflecting the scholarly tradition of maintaining ancient historiography.

Contents

The narrative centers on the siege of Rhodes by Demetrius Poliorcetes, describing the construction of the massive siege tower Helepolis and the use of ballistae, catapults, and rams. It records Demetrius’s landing at Pseudostomon, his capture of commanders Athenagoras, Damophilus, and Phila, and the supply efforts of Ptolemy I, Cassander, and Lysimachus. The book also recounts Agathocles’ campaigns in Sicily, his attacks on the Liparaean Islands and Gaza, and his conflict with Deinocrates. The Samnite‑Roman war is described, noting the participation of the Samnites and Rome. Finally, the reigns of Eumelus and Spartacus in the Bosporus are outlined, along with the construction of Rhodes’ second defensive wall.

Scope

Temporal: 304‑303 BC. Geographic: Rhodes, Sicily, Italy, Macedonia, the Bosporus, and the Levant. Thematic: Hellenistic military campaigns, sieges, political alliances, and regional governance. Included: Detailed accounts of the siege of Rhodes, Agathocles’ Sicilian operations, the Samnite‑Roman conflict, and Bosporan succession. Excluded: Earlier events of the Bibliotheca historica and later Hellenistic developments beyond 303 BC.

Entities

(loading...)

Entity Relationships

(loading...)

Raw Cheimarros Data

@diodorus_siculus:person {role: "Ancient Greek historian"}

@alexander_institute:organization {type: "Research institute"}

@sicily:place {description: "Island region in the central Mediterranean"}

@italy:place {description: "Peninsula in Southern Europe"}

@macedonia:place {description: "Ancient kingdom in the northern Greek peninsula"}

@file_pinax -> created_by -> @diodorus_siculus:person

@file_pinax -> stored_at -> @alexander_institute:organization

@file_pinax -> created_in -> @date_304_BC {note: "Start of creation"}

@file_pinax -> created_in -> @date_303_BC {note: "End of creation"}

@file_pinax -> mentions -> @agathocles:person

@file_pinax -> mentions -> @demetrius:person

@file_pinax -> mentions -> @antigonus_i:person

@file_pinax -> mentions -> @ptolemy_i:person

@file_pinax -> mentions -> @cassander:person

@file_pinax -> mentions -> @samnites:organization

@file_pinax -> mentions -> @eumelus:person

@file_pinax -> mentions -> @spartacus:person

@file_pinax -> mentions_place -> @rhodes:place

@file_pinax -> mentions_place -> @sicily:place

@file_pinax -> mentions_place -> @italy:place

@file_pinax -> mentions_place -> @macedonia:place

@file_pinax -> mentions_place -> @bosporus:place

@book_xx:event -> covers -> @agathocles_campaign:event

@book_xx:event -> covers -> @samnite_roman_war:event

@book_xx:event -> covers -> @siege_of_rhodes:event

@book_xx:event -> covers -> @eumelus:person

@book_xx:event -> covers -> @spartacus:person

Metadata

Title
Diodorus Siculus, Book XX
Type
Text
Creator
Diodorus Siculus
Institution
alexander_institute
Created
304-303 BC
Language
grc
Subjects
Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Siege of Rhodes, Agathocles, Demetrius Poliorcetes, Antigonus I Monophthalmus, Ptolemy I Soter, Cassander, Polyperchon, Samnites, Aetolians, Liparaean Islands, Eumelus, Spartacus
Rights
Public Domain
Place
Rhodes, Sicily, Italy, Macedonia, Bosporus
Source
PINAX

Version History (6 versions)

  • ✓ v6 (current) · 12/2/2025, 10:03:25 PM
    "Added description"
  • v5 · 12/2/2025, 9:58:18 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v4 · 12/2/2025, 9:55:02 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v3 · 12/2/2025, 9:52:41 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 1 groups"
  • v2 · 12/2/2025, 9:52:40 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KBGGV9WVEKWQ3P3FDPK4BC4M"
  • v1 · 12/2/2025, 9:49:12 PM · View this version
    "Alphabetical chunk 2/4 (40 files)"

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

All files belong to a single coherent group as they are sequential pages from Diodorus Siculus' Volume X, Book XX, covering a continuous historical narrative around 307-303 BCE. The content focuses on events in Sicily, Greece, and Italy during this period, particularly the siege of Rhodes by Demetrius Poliorcetes and the campaigns of Agathocles in Sicily.

## Groups Created

- **Diodorus_Siculus_Book_XX**: Text files containing excerpts from Diodorus Siculus' Volume X, Book XX, covering historical events around 307-303 BCE.

Parent

↑ 01KBGGMH5397ZAMYMQ4AWEESPV

Children (1)