§ 1), is likewise uncertain, and it may be
of Himera, besieged by Hannibal, the son of Gisco.
of Himera, besieged by Hannibal, the son of Gisco.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
iii.
58.
)
[L. S. ]
as a marine (socius naralis) under the great P. DINON. (Deixon. ]
Corn. Scipio Africanus. After the taking of New DIOCLEIDES (Alok Nelons), an Athenian, who,
Carthage in B. C. 210, Sex. Digitius and Q. Tre- when the people were highly excited about the
bellius were rewarded by Scipio with the corona mutilation of the Hermae, B. C. 415, and ready to
muralis, for the two men disputed as to which of credit any information whatever, came forward and
them bad first scaled the walls of the place. (Liv. told the following story to the council :-Private
xxvi. 48. ) It must be supposed that Digitius business having taken him from home on the night
was further rewarded for his bravery with the on which the busts were defaced, he had seen
Roman franchise ; for his son, or perhaps he him- about 300 men enter the orchestra of the theatre,
self, is mentioned as praetor in B. c. 194.
and was able by the light of the full moon to ob.
2. It is uncertain whether he is a son of the serve their features perfectly. At the time he had
Digitius who served in Spain under Scipio, or no idea of the purpose of their assembling, but the
whether he is identical with him, though the for- next day he heard of the affair of the Hermae, and
mer is more probable. He was praetor in B. c. taxed some of the 300 with it. They bribed him
194, and obtained southern Spain as his province. to secresy by the promise of two talents, which
After the departure of M. Cato, several of the they afterwards refused to pay, and he had there.
Spanish tribes again revolted, and Digitius had to fore come to give information. This story was
fight many battles against them, in most of which implicitly believed at the time, and a number of
he was so unsuccessful, that at the termination of persons mentioned as guilty by Diocleides were
his office his forces were reduced to half of their imprisoned, while the informer himself received a
original number. In B. c. 190 he was appointed crown of honour and a public entertainment in the
legate by the consul L. Corn. Scipio Asiaticus ; | Prytaneium. Soon afterwards, however, Ando-
and, conjointly with two others, he was com- cides (who with several of his relations was among
missioned to collect a fleet at Brundusium from the prisoners) came forward with his version of
all parts of the coast. In B. c. 174 he was one of the matter, which contradicted that of Diocleides.
the ambassadors sent to Macedonia, and in the It was also remembered that the moon was not
year following he was sent to Apulia to purchase visible on the night on which the latter professed
provisions for the fleet and the army. (Liv. xxxv. to have marked by its light the faces of the ac-
1, 2, xxxvii. 4, xli. 22, xlii. 27; Oros. iv. 22, cused. He was driven, therefore, to confess that
where he is erroneously called Publius. ) The his evidence was false, and he added (which was,
military tribune, Sex. Digitius, who is mentioned perhaps, equally false), that he had been suborned
by Livy (xliii. 11) about the same time, is probably to give it by two men named Alcibiades and Ami-
a son of our Sex. Digitius.
[L. S. ]
Both of these sought safety by flight, and
antus,
3 т
## p. 1010 (#1030) ##########################################
1010
DIOCLES.
DIOCLES.
accents.
Diocleides was put to death. (Andoc. de Myst. I died about this time, as we find no mention of liis
PI. 6-9 ; lúc. vi. 60 ; Phry, ap. J'at. Alc. pame in the civil dissensions which led to the
20 ; Dind. xiii. 2. )
[E. E. ] clevation of Dionysius. (Hubmann, Diokles Gesetz-
DIOCLEIDES (Alokleions ), of Abdera, is geber der Syrukusiet, Amberg, 1842. ) [E. JI. B. ]
mentioned in Athenacus (for this seems to be the DI'OCLES (Alokañs). 1. A brave Athenian, who
meaning of the passage) as having admirably de- lived in exile at Megara. Once in a battle he pro-
scribed the famous engine called 'Edénonis (the tected with his shield a youth whom he loved, but
City-taker), which was made by Epimachus the he lost his own life in consequence.
The Mega-
Athenian for Demetrius Poliorceies at the siege of rians rewarded the gallant man with the honours
Rhodes. (Ath. v. p. 206, d. ; Diod. xx. 91 ; of a hero, and instituted the festival of the Dio-
Wesseling, ad loc. ; Plut. Demetr. 21 ; Vitruv. x. cleia, which they celebrated in the spring of every
22. )
[E. E. ) year. (Thcocrit. xii. 27, &c. ; Aristoph. Acharn.
DIOCLES (A10KAñs), the son of Orsilochus and 774 ; Plut. Thes. 10; Dict. of Ant. s. v. Atókhera. )
father of Crethon and Orsilochus, was a king of 2. The name of three wealthy Sicilians who were
Phere. (Hom. II. v. 540, &c. , Od. iii. 488 ; Paus. robbed by Verres and his satellites. (Cic. in Verr.
iii. 30. $ 2. )
(L. S. ] nji. 50, 40, v. 7, iv. 16. )
[L. S. ]
DI'OCLES (ALOkins), a Syracusan, celebrated DI'OCLES (ALOKAS), literary. 1. Of ATHENS.
for his code of laws. No mention of his name oc- See below.
curs in Thucydides, but according to Diodorus he 2. Of Csidus, a Platonic philosopher, who is
was the proposer of the decree for putting to death mentioned as the author of Alatpical, from which
the Athenian generals Demosthenes and Nicias. a fragment is quoted in Eusebius. (Pruip. Erang.
(Diod. xiii. 19. ) He is called by Diodorus upon xiv. p. 731. )
this occasion the most eminent of the demagogues 3. A Greek GRAMMARIAN, who wrote upon the
at Syracuse, and appears to have been at this time Homeric poems, and is mentioned in the Venetian
the leader of the popular or democratic party, in Scholia (ad Il. xiii. 103) along with Dionysius Thrax,
opposition to Hermocrates. The next year (B. c. Aristarchus, and Chacris on the subject of Greek
412), if the chronology of Diodorus be correct, a
A dream of his is related by Artemi-
democratic revolution took place, and Diocles was dorus. (Oncir. iv. 72. )
appointed with several others to frame and establish 4. Of MAGNESIA, was the author of a work
a new code of laws. In this he took so prominent entitled étropOur Twv diaocóowv, and of a second
a part, that he threw his colleagues quite into the on the lives of philosophers (περί βίων φιλοσόφων),
shade, and the code was ever after known as that of both of which Diogenes Laertius appears to
of Diocles. We know nothing of its details, but have made great use. (ii
. 82, vi. 12, 13, 20, 36,
it is praised by Diodorus for its conciseness of 87, 91, 99, 103, vii. 43, 162, 166, 179, 181, ix.
style, and the care with which it distinguished 61, 65, x. 12. )
different offences and assigned to each its peculiar 5. Of PEPARETH US, the earliest Greek historian,
penalty. The best proof of its merit is, that it who wrote about the foundation of Rome, and
continued to be followed as a civil code not only whom Q. Fabius Pictor is said to have followed in a
at Syracuse, but in many others of the Sicilian great many points. (Plut. Rom. 3, 8; Fest. s. r.
cities, until the island was subjected to the Roman Romam. ) How long he lived before the time of
law, (Diod. xiii. 35. )
Fabius Pictor, is unknown. Whether he is the
The banishment of Hermocrates and his party same as the author of a work on heroes (tepi
(B. C. 410 ; see Xen. Hell. i. 1. $ 27) must have vipuwv cúvtayua), which is mentioned by Plutarch
left Diocles undisputed leader of the commonwealth. (Quaest. Graec. 40), and of a history of Persia
The next year he commanded the forces sent by (recoiká), which is quoted by Josephus (Ant. Jud.
Syracuse and the other cities of Sicily to the relief x. 11.
§ 1), is likewise uncertain, and it may be
of Himera, besieged by Hannibal, the son of Gisco. that the last two works belong to Diocles of
He was, however, unable to avert its fate, and Rhodes, whose work on Aetolia (Altwiká) is
withdrew from the city, carrying off as many as referred to by Plutarch. (De Flum. 22. )
possible of the inhabitants, but in such baste that 6. Of Sybaris, a Pythagorean philosopher
he did not stay to bury those of his troops who (lamb. Vit. Pyth. 36), who must be diætinguished
had fallen in battle. (Diod. xiii. 59-61. ) This from another Pythagorean, Diocles of Phlius, who
circumstance probably gave rise to discontent at is mentioned by lamblichus (Vit. Putiag. 35) as
Syracuse, which was increased when Hermocrates, one of the most zealous followers of Pythagoras.
having returned to Sicily and obtained some suc- The latter Diocles was still alive in the time of
cesses against the Carthaginians, sent back the Aristoxenus (Diog. Laërt. viii. 46), but further
bones of those who had perished at Himera with particulars are not known about him. [L. S. ]
the highest honours. The revulsion of feeling thus DI'OCLES (A10kañs), of Athens, or, according
excited led to the banishment of Diocles, B. C. 408. to others, of Phlius, and perhaps in fact a Phliasian
(Diod. xiii. 63, 75. ) It does not appear whether by birth and an Athenian by citizenship, was a
he was afterwards recalled, and we are at a loss to comic poet of the old comedy, contemporary with
connect with the subsequent revolutions of Syra- Sannyrion and Philyllius. (Suid. 8. v. ) The fol-
cuse the strange story told by Diodorus, that he lowing plays of his are mentioned by Suidas and
stabbed himself with his own sword, to shew his Eudocia (p. 132). and are frequently quoted by the
respect for one of his laws, which he had thought- grammarians : Bákyai, Oálatta, KÚKAWnes (by
lessly infringed by coming armed into the place others ascribed to Callias), Ménittal. The Ovéoins
of assembly. . (Diod. xiii. 33. ) A story almost and Overpon, which are only mentioned by Suidas
precisely similar is, however, told by the same and Eudocia, are suspicious titles. He seems to
author (xii
. 19) of Charondas [CHARONDAS), have been an elegant poet. (Meineke, Frag. Com.
which renders it at least very doubtful as regard-Gracc. i. pp. 251-253, ii. pp. 838-841. ) [P. S. ]
ing Diocles. Yet it is probable that he must have DI'OCLES (Alokañs), a geometer of unknown
## p. 1011 (#1031) ##########################################
DIOCLES.
1011
DIOCLETIANUS.
years.
drto, rho wrote repl tupwv, according to Eutocius DIOCLETIANUS VALE'RIUS, was born
who has cited froin that book (Comm. in S. et near Salona in Dalmatia, in the year a. D. 24. ), of
Cyd. Archim. lib. ii. prop. v. ) his method of divid- most obscure parentage; his father, according to
ing a sphere by a planc in a given ratio. But the accouts commonly received, which are, how-
he is better known by another extract which tu ever, evidently hostile, having been a freedman
tocius (Op. Cit. lib. ii
. prop. ii. ) has preserved, and provincial scribe, while the future emperor
giving his mode of solving the problem of two himself was indebted for liberty to a senator
mean proportionnls by aid of a curve, which has Anulinus. Were this last statement true he must
since been cailed the cissoil, and is too well known have been born while his parent was a slave; but
to geometers to need description. [A. DE M. ] this is impossible, for, as Niebuhr has pointed out,
DI’OCLES CARYSTIUS (Alukañs ó Kapúo- the Roman law, even as it stood at ihat period,
T105), a very celebrated Greek physician, was born would have prevented the son from being enlisted
at Carystus in Euboca, and lived in the fourth in the legion. From his mother, Doelea, or
century 1. C. , not long after the time of Ilippocrates, Dioclea, who received her designation from the
to whom Pliny says he was next in age and fame. village where she dwelt, he inherited the appella-
(11. X. xxvi. 6. ) lle belonged to the medical secttion of Docies or Diocles, which, after his assump-
of the Dogmatici (Gal. de Aliment. Facult. i. 1, vol. tion of the purple, was Latinized and expanded
vi. p. 455), and wrote several medical works, of into the more majestic and sonorous Diocletianus,
which only the titles and some fragments remain, and attached as a cognomen to the high patrician
preserved by Galen, Caelius Aurelianus, Oribasius, name of Valerius. Having entered the army lie
and other ancient writers. The longest of these is served with high reputation, passed through vari-
a letter to king Antigonus, entitled 'E7107017) ous subordinate grades, was appointed to most ini-
Προφυλακτική, "A Letter on Preserving Health," portant commands under Probus and Aurelian, in
which is inserted by Paulus Aegineta at the end process of time was elevated to the rank of consul
of the first hook of his medical work, and which, sufiectus, followed Carus to the Persian war, and,
if genuine, was probably addressed to Antigonus after the death of that emperor on the banks of the
Gonatas, king of Macedonia, who died B. c. 239, Tigris Carus), remained attached to the court dur-
at the age of eighty, after a reign of forty-four ing the retreat in the honourable capacity of chief
It resembles in its subjeci matter several captain of the palace guards (domestici). When
other similar letters ascribed to Hippocrates the fate of Numerianus became known, the troops
(see Ermerins, Anecd. Med. Graeca, praef. p. who had met in solenin assembly at Chalcedon, for
xiv. ), and treats of the diet fitted for the differ- the purpose of nominating a successor, declared
ent seasons of the year. It is published in the with one voice that the man most worthy of the
various editions of Paulus Aegineta, and also in sovereign power was Diocletian, who, having ac-
several other works: e. 9. in Greek in Matthaei's cepted the proferred dignity, signalized his acces-
edition of Rufus Ephesius, Mosquae, 1806, 8v0. ; sion by slaying with his own hands Arrius Aper
in Greek and Latin in the twelfth volume of the praefect of the praetorians, who was arraigned of
old edition of Fabricius, Biblioth. Graeca ; and in the murder of the deceased prince, his son-in-law
Mich. Neander's Syllogae Physicae, Lips. 1591, [NUMERIANUS). The proceedings upon this
8vo. ; and in Latin with Alexander Trallianus, Ba- occasion were characterised by an intemperate
sil. 1541, fol. ; and Meletius, Venet. 1552, 4to. &c. haste, which gave plausibility to the report, that
There is also a German translation by Hieronymus the avenger of Numerian, notwithstanding his
Bock, in J. Dryander's Practicirlüchlein, Frank- solemn protestations of innocence and disinter-
fort, 155), 8vo. Some persons have attributed to ested zeal, was less eager to satisfy the demands
Diocles the honour of first explaining the difference of justice than to avert suspicion from himself and
between the veins and arteries; but this does not to remove a forinidable rival, especially since he
seem to be correct, nor is any great discovery con did not scruple to confess that he had long anxi-
nected with his name. Further information re- ously sought to fulfil a prophecy delivered to him
specting him may be found in the different histories in early youth by a Gaulish Druidess, tha: he
of medicine, and also in Fabricius, Biblioth. Graeca, should mount a throne as soon as he had slain the
vol. xii. p. 584, ed. vet. ; A. Rivinus, Programma wild-boar (Aper). These events took place in the
de Diocle Curystio, Lips. 1655, 4to. ; C. G. Gruner, course of the year 281, known in chronology as
Bibliothek der Alten Aerzte, Leipz. 1781, 8vo. vol. the era of Diocletian, or the era of the martyrs, an
ii. p. 605; C. G. Kühn, Opuscula Academ. Med, et epoch long employed in the calculations of eccle-
Philolog. Lips. 18:27, 8vo. vol. ii. p. 87. In these siastical writers, and still in use among Coptic
works are quoted most of the passages in ancient Christians. After the ceremonies of installation
authors referring to Diocles; he is also mentioned had been completed at Nicomedeia, it became neces-
by Soranus, de Arte Obstetr. pp. 15, 16, 67, 99, sary to take the field forth with against Carinus,
124, 210, 257, 265; and in Cramer's Anecd. Graecu who was hastening towards Asia at the head of a
Puris
. vol. i. p. 394, and vol. iv. p. 196. [W. A. G. ] numerous and well-disciplined army. The oppos-
DI'OCLES, JULIUS ('lobicos Alokañs), of ing armies met near Margus in upper Moesia, and,
Carystus, the author of four epigrams in the Greek after an obstinate struggle, victory declared for the
Anthology. (Brunck, Anal. ii. 182 ; Jacobs, ii. hardy veterans of the Western legions; but while
167. ) His name implies that he was a Greek, Carinus was hotly pursuing the flying foe be was
and had obtained the Ronan ciritas. Reiske sup- slain by his own officers [CARINUS). His troops,
posed hiin to be the same person as the rhetorician left without a leader, fraternized with their late
Diocles of Carystus, who is often mentioned by enemies, Diocletian was acknowledged by the
Others suppose him to be the same as conjoined armies, and no one appeared prepared to
the physician. The name of the poet himself is dispute his claims. The conqueror used his victory
variously written in the titles to liis epigrams. with praiseworthy and politic moderation. There
(Jacobs, xiii. 882, 883. )
[P. S. ] were no proscriptions, no confiscations, no banish-
Seneca.
3T 2
## p. 1012 (#1032) ##########################################
1012
DIOCLETIANTS.
DIOCLETLANI'S.
mients.
Nearly the whole of the ministrss and | lates, a certain fixed and definite portion being
attendants of the deceased monarch were permitted assigned to each, within which, in the absence of
10 retain their offices, and even the practorian the rest, his jurisdiction should be absolute. All,
praefect Aristobulus was continued in his com- however, being considered as colleagues working
mand. There was little prospect, however, of a together for the accomplishment of the same ohject,
peaceful reign. In addition to the insubordinate the decrces of one were to be binding upon the
spirit which prerailed universally among the rest ; and while cach Caesar was, in a certain de-
soldiery, who had been accustomed for a long grec, subordinate to the Angusti, the three junior
series of years to create and dethrone their rulers members of this mighty partnership were required
according to the suggestions of interest, passion, or distinctly to recognise Diocletian as the head and
caprice, the empire was threatened in the West hy guide of the whole. Accordingly, on the 1st of
a formidable insurrection of the Bagaudae under March 292, Constantius Chlorus and Galerius
Aclianus and Amandus (AELIANUS), in the East were proclaimed Caesars at Nicomedein, and to knit
hy the Persians, and in the North by the turbu- more firmly the connecting bonds, they were both
lent movements of the wild tribes upon the Danube. called upon to repudiate their wives ; upon which
Feeling himself unable to cope single-handed with the former received in marriage Theodoran
, the
80 many difficulties, Diocletian resolved to assume step-daughter of Maximian ; the litter l'aleria, the
a colleague who should enjoy, nominally at least, daughter of Diocletian. In the partition of the pro-
equal rank and power with himself, and relieve vinces the two younger princes were appointed to the
him from the burden of undertaking in person posts of greatest labour and hazard. To Constan-
distant wars. His choice fell upon the brave tius were assigned Britain, Gaul, and Spain, the
and experienced, but rough and unlettered sol- chief seat of governinent being fixed at Treves; to
dier Maximianus [MAXIMIANUS HERCULIUS], Galerius were intrusted Illyricum, and the whole
whom he invested with the title of Augistus, at line of the Danube, with Sirmium for a capital ;
Nicomedeia, in 286. At the same time the asso- Maximian resided at Milan, as governor of Italyand
ciated rulers adopted respectively the epithets of Africa, together with Sicily and the islands of the
Jorius and Herculius, either from some super-Tyrrhenian Sea; while Diocletian retained Thrace,
stitious motire, or, according to the explanation of Egypt, Syria, and Asia in his own hands, and
one of the panegyrists, in order to declare to the established his court at Nicomedein. The immediate
world that while the elder possessed supreme results of this arrangement were most auspicious.
wisdom to devise and direct, the younger could Maximianus routed the Mauritanian hordes. and
exert irresistible might in the execution of all drove them back to their mountain fastnesses,
projects.
while Julian being defeated perished by his own
The new emperor hastened to quell, by his hands ; Divcletian invested Alexandria, which was
presence, the disturbances in Gaul, and succeeded captured after a siege of eight months, and many
without difficulty in chastising the rebellious boors. thousands of the seditious citizens were slain,
But this achievement was but a poor consolation Busiris and Coptos were levelled with the ground,
for the loss of Britain, and the glory of the two and all Egypt, struck with terror by the success
Augusti was dimmed by their forced acquiescence and severity of the emperor, sank into abject submis-
in the insolent usurpation of Carausius. (CARAU- sion.
[L. S. ]
as a marine (socius naralis) under the great P. DINON. (Deixon. ]
Corn. Scipio Africanus. After the taking of New DIOCLEIDES (Alok Nelons), an Athenian, who,
Carthage in B. C. 210, Sex. Digitius and Q. Tre- when the people were highly excited about the
bellius were rewarded by Scipio with the corona mutilation of the Hermae, B. C. 415, and ready to
muralis, for the two men disputed as to which of credit any information whatever, came forward and
them bad first scaled the walls of the place. (Liv. told the following story to the council :-Private
xxvi. 48. ) It must be supposed that Digitius business having taken him from home on the night
was further rewarded for his bravery with the on which the busts were defaced, he had seen
Roman franchise ; for his son, or perhaps he him- about 300 men enter the orchestra of the theatre,
self, is mentioned as praetor in B. c. 194.
and was able by the light of the full moon to ob.
2. It is uncertain whether he is a son of the serve their features perfectly. At the time he had
Digitius who served in Spain under Scipio, or no idea of the purpose of their assembling, but the
whether he is identical with him, though the for- next day he heard of the affair of the Hermae, and
mer is more probable. He was praetor in B. c. taxed some of the 300 with it. They bribed him
194, and obtained southern Spain as his province. to secresy by the promise of two talents, which
After the departure of M. Cato, several of the they afterwards refused to pay, and he had there.
Spanish tribes again revolted, and Digitius had to fore come to give information. This story was
fight many battles against them, in most of which implicitly believed at the time, and a number of
he was so unsuccessful, that at the termination of persons mentioned as guilty by Diocleides were
his office his forces were reduced to half of their imprisoned, while the informer himself received a
original number. In B. c. 190 he was appointed crown of honour and a public entertainment in the
legate by the consul L. Corn. Scipio Asiaticus ; | Prytaneium. Soon afterwards, however, Ando-
and, conjointly with two others, he was com- cides (who with several of his relations was among
missioned to collect a fleet at Brundusium from the prisoners) came forward with his version of
all parts of the coast. In B. c. 174 he was one of the matter, which contradicted that of Diocleides.
the ambassadors sent to Macedonia, and in the It was also remembered that the moon was not
year following he was sent to Apulia to purchase visible on the night on which the latter professed
provisions for the fleet and the army. (Liv. xxxv. to have marked by its light the faces of the ac-
1, 2, xxxvii. 4, xli. 22, xlii. 27; Oros. iv. 22, cused. He was driven, therefore, to confess that
where he is erroneously called Publius. ) The his evidence was false, and he added (which was,
military tribune, Sex. Digitius, who is mentioned perhaps, equally false), that he had been suborned
by Livy (xliii. 11) about the same time, is probably to give it by two men named Alcibiades and Ami-
a son of our Sex. Digitius.
[L. S. ]
Both of these sought safety by flight, and
antus,
3 т
## p. 1010 (#1030) ##########################################
1010
DIOCLES.
DIOCLES.
accents.
Diocleides was put to death. (Andoc. de Myst. I died about this time, as we find no mention of liis
PI. 6-9 ; lúc. vi. 60 ; Phry, ap. J'at. Alc. pame in the civil dissensions which led to the
20 ; Dind. xiii. 2. )
[E. E. ] clevation of Dionysius. (Hubmann, Diokles Gesetz-
DIOCLEIDES (Alokleions ), of Abdera, is geber der Syrukusiet, Amberg, 1842. ) [E. JI. B. ]
mentioned in Athenacus (for this seems to be the DI'OCLES (Alokañs). 1. A brave Athenian, who
meaning of the passage) as having admirably de- lived in exile at Megara. Once in a battle he pro-
scribed the famous engine called 'Edénonis (the tected with his shield a youth whom he loved, but
City-taker), which was made by Epimachus the he lost his own life in consequence.
The Mega-
Athenian for Demetrius Poliorceies at the siege of rians rewarded the gallant man with the honours
Rhodes. (Ath. v. p. 206, d. ; Diod. xx. 91 ; of a hero, and instituted the festival of the Dio-
Wesseling, ad loc. ; Plut. Demetr. 21 ; Vitruv. x. cleia, which they celebrated in the spring of every
22. )
[E. E. ) year. (Thcocrit. xii. 27, &c. ; Aristoph. Acharn.
DIOCLES (A10KAñs), the son of Orsilochus and 774 ; Plut. Thes. 10; Dict. of Ant. s. v. Atókhera. )
father of Crethon and Orsilochus, was a king of 2. The name of three wealthy Sicilians who were
Phere. (Hom. II. v. 540, &c. , Od. iii. 488 ; Paus. robbed by Verres and his satellites. (Cic. in Verr.
iii. 30. $ 2. )
(L. S. ] nji. 50, 40, v. 7, iv. 16. )
[L. S. ]
DI'OCLES (ALOkins), a Syracusan, celebrated DI'OCLES (ALOKAS), literary. 1. Of ATHENS.
for his code of laws. No mention of his name oc- See below.
curs in Thucydides, but according to Diodorus he 2. Of Csidus, a Platonic philosopher, who is
was the proposer of the decree for putting to death mentioned as the author of Alatpical, from which
the Athenian generals Demosthenes and Nicias. a fragment is quoted in Eusebius. (Pruip. Erang.
(Diod. xiii. 19. ) He is called by Diodorus upon xiv. p. 731. )
this occasion the most eminent of the demagogues 3. A Greek GRAMMARIAN, who wrote upon the
at Syracuse, and appears to have been at this time Homeric poems, and is mentioned in the Venetian
the leader of the popular or democratic party, in Scholia (ad Il. xiii. 103) along with Dionysius Thrax,
opposition to Hermocrates. The next year (B. c. Aristarchus, and Chacris on the subject of Greek
412), if the chronology of Diodorus be correct, a
A dream of his is related by Artemi-
democratic revolution took place, and Diocles was dorus. (Oncir. iv. 72. )
appointed with several others to frame and establish 4. Of MAGNESIA, was the author of a work
a new code of laws. In this he took so prominent entitled étropOur Twv diaocóowv, and of a second
a part, that he threw his colleagues quite into the on the lives of philosophers (περί βίων φιλοσόφων),
shade, and the code was ever after known as that of both of which Diogenes Laertius appears to
of Diocles. We know nothing of its details, but have made great use. (ii
. 82, vi. 12, 13, 20, 36,
it is praised by Diodorus for its conciseness of 87, 91, 99, 103, vii. 43, 162, 166, 179, 181, ix.
style, and the care with which it distinguished 61, 65, x. 12. )
different offences and assigned to each its peculiar 5. Of PEPARETH US, the earliest Greek historian,
penalty. The best proof of its merit is, that it who wrote about the foundation of Rome, and
continued to be followed as a civil code not only whom Q. Fabius Pictor is said to have followed in a
at Syracuse, but in many others of the Sicilian great many points. (Plut. Rom. 3, 8; Fest. s. r.
cities, until the island was subjected to the Roman Romam. ) How long he lived before the time of
law, (Diod. xiii. 35. )
Fabius Pictor, is unknown. Whether he is the
The banishment of Hermocrates and his party same as the author of a work on heroes (tepi
(B. C. 410 ; see Xen. Hell. i. 1. $ 27) must have vipuwv cúvtayua), which is mentioned by Plutarch
left Diocles undisputed leader of the commonwealth. (Quaest. Graec. 40), and of a history of Persia
The next year he commanded the forces sent by (recoiká), which is quoted by Josephus (Ant. Jud.
Syracuse and the other cities of Sicily to the relief x. 11.
§ 1), is likewise uncertain, and it may be
of Himera, besieged by Hannibal, the son of Gisco. that the last two works belong to Diocles of
He was, however, unable to avert its fate, and Rhodes, whose work on Aetolia (Altwiká) is
withdrew from the city, carrying off as many as referred to by Plutarch. (De Flum. 22. )
possible of the inhabitants, but in such baste that 6. Of Sybaris, a Pythagorean philosopher
he did not stay to bury those of his troops who (lamb. Vit. Pyth. 36), who must be diætinguished
had fallen in battle. (Diod. xiii. 59-61. ) This from another Pythagorean, Diocles of Phlius, who
circumstance probably gave rise to discontent at is mentioned by lamblichus (Vit. Putiag. 35) as
Syracuse, which was increased when Hermocrates, one of the most zealous followers of Pythagoras.
having returned to Sicily and obtained some suc- The latter Diocles was still alive in the time of
cesses against the Carthaginians, sent back the Aristoxenus (Diog. Laërt. viii. 46), but further
bones of those who had perished at Himera with particulars are not known about him. [L. S. ]
the highest honours. The revulsion of feeling thus DI'OCLES (A10kañs), of Athens, or, according
excited led to the banishment of Diocles, B. C. 408. to others, of Phlius, and perhaps in fact a Phliasian
(Diod. xiii. 63, 75. ) It does not appear whether by birth and an Athenian by citizenship, was a
he was afterwards recalled, and we are at a loss to comic poet of the old comedy, contemporary with
connect with the subsequent revolutions of Syra- Sannyrion and Philyllius. (Suid. 8. v. ) The fol-
cuse the strange story told by Diodorus, that he lowing plays of his are mentioned by Suidas and
stabbed himself with his own sword, to shew his Eudocia (p. 132). and are frequently quoted by the
respect for one of his laws, which he had thought- grammarians : Bákyai, Oálatta, KÚKAWnes (by
lessly infringed by coming armed into the place others ascribed to Callias), Ménittal. The Ovéoins
of assembly. . (Diod. xiii. 33. ) A story almost and Overpon, which are only mentioned by Suidas
precisely similar is, however, told by the same and Eudocia, are suspicious titles. He seems to
author (xii
. 19) of Charondas [CHARONDAS), have been an elegant poet. (Meineke, Frag. Com.
which renders it at least very doubtful as regard-Gracc. i. pp. 251-253, ii. pp. 838-841. ) [P. S. ]
ing Diocles. Yet it is probable that he must have DI'OCLES (Alokañs), a geometer of unknown
## p. 1011 (#1031) ##########################################
DIOCLES.
1011
DIOCLETIANUS.
years.
drto, rho wrote repl tupwv, according to Eutocius DIOCLETIANUS VALE'RIUS, was born
who has cited froin that book (Comm. in S. et near Salona in Dalmatia, in the year a. D. 24. ), of
Cyd. Archim. lib. ii. prop. v. ) his method of divid- most obscure parentage; his father, according to
ing a sphere by a planc in a given ratio. But the accouts commonly received, which are, how-
he is better known by another extract which tu ever, evidently hostile, having been a freedman
tocius (Op. Cit. lib. ii
. prop. ii. ) has preserved, and provincial scribe, while the future emperor
giving his mode of solving the problem of two himself was indebted for liberty to a senator
mean proportionnls by aid of a curve, which has Anulinus. Were this last statement true he must
since been cailed the cissoil, and is too well known have been born while his parent was a slave; but
to geometers to need description. [A. DE M. ] this is impossible, for, as Niebuhr has pointed out,
DI’OCLES CARYSTIUS (Alukañs ó Kapúo- the Roman law, even as it stood at ihat period,
T105), a very celebrated Greek physician, was born would have prevented the son from being enlisted
at Carystus in Euboca, and lived in the fourth in the legion. From his mother, Doelea, or
century 1. C. , not long after the time of Ilippocrates, Dioclea, who received her designation from the
to whom Pliny says he was next in age and fame. village where she dwelt, he inherited the appella-
(11. X. xxvi. 6. ) lle belonged to the medical secttion of Docies or Diocles, which, after his assump-
of the Dogmatici (Gal. de Aliment. Facult. i. 1, vol. tion of the purple, was Latinized and expanded
vi. p. 455), and wrote several medical works, of into the more majestic and sonorous Diocletianus,
which only the titles and some fragments remain, and attached as a cognomen to the high patrician
preserved by Galen, Caelius Aurelianus, Oribasius, name of Valerius. Having entered the army lie
and other ancient writers. The longest of these is served with high reputation, passed through vari-
a letter to king Antigonus, entitled 'E7107017) ous subordinate grades, was appointed to most ini-
Προφυλακτική, "A Letter on Preserving Health," portant commands under Probus and Aurelian, in
which is inserted by Paulus Aegineta at the end process of time was elevated to the rank of consul
of the first hook of his medical work, and which, sufiectus, followed Carus to the Persian war, and,
if genuine, was probably addressed to Antigonus after the death of that emperor on the banks of the
Gonatas, king of Macedonia, who died B. c. 239, Tigris Carus), remained attached to the court dur-
at the age of eighty, after a reign of forty-four ing the retreat in the honourable capacity of chief
It resembles in its subjeci matter several captain of the palace guards (domestici). When
other similar letters ascribed to Hippocrates the fate of Numerianus became known, the troops
(see Ermerins, Anecd. Med. Graeca, praef. p. who had met in solenin assembly at Chalcedon, for
xiv. ), and treats of the diet fitted for the differ- the purpose of nominating a successor, declared
ent seasons of the year. It is published in the with one voice that the man most worthy of the
various editions of Paulus Aegineta, and also in sovereign power was Diocletian, who, having ac-
several other works: e. 9. in Greek in Matthaei's cepted the proferred dignity, signalized his acces-
edition of Rufus Ephesius, Mosquae, 1806, 8v0. ; sion by slaying with his own hands Arrius Aper
in Greek and Latin in the twelfth volume of the praefect of the praetorians, who was arraigned of
old edition of Fabricius, Biblioth. Graeca ; and in the murder of the deceased prince, his son-in-law
Mich. Neander's Syllogae Physicae, Lips. 1591, [NUMERIANUS). The proceedings upon this
8vo. ; and in Latin with Alexander Trallianus, Ba- occasion were characterised by an intemperate
sil. 1541, fol. ; and Meletius, Venet. 1552, 4to. &c. haste, which gave plausibility to the report, that
There is also a German translation by Hieronymus the avenger of Numerian, notwithstanding his
Bock, in J. Dryander's Practicirlüchlein, Frank- solemn protestations of innocence and disinter-
fort, 155), 8vo. Some persons have attributed to ested zeal, was less eager to satisfy the demands
Diocles the honour of first explaining the difference of justice than to avert suspicion from himself and
between the veins and arteries; but this does not to remove a forinidable rival, especially since he
seem to be correct, nor is any great discovery con did not scruple to confess that he had long anxi-
nected with his name. Further information re- ously sought to fulfil a prophecy delivered to him
specting him may be found in the different histories in early youth by a Gaulish Druidess, tha: he
of medicine, and also in Fabricius, Biblioth. Graeca, should mount a throne as soon as he had slain the
vol. xii. p. 584, ed. vet. ; A. Rivinus, Programma wild-boar (Aper). These events took place in the
de Diocle Curystio, Lips. 1655, 4to. ; C. G. Gruner, course of the year 281, known in chronology as
Bibliothek der Alten Aerzte, Leipz. 1781, 8vo. vol. the era of Diocletian, or the era of the martyrs, an
ii. p. 605; C. G. Kühn, Opuscula Academ. Med, et epoch long employed in the calculations of eccle-
Philolog. Lips. 18:27, 8vo. vol. ii. p. 87. In these siastical writers, and still in use among Coptic
works are quoted most of the passages in ancient Christians. After the ceremonies of installation
authors referring to Diocles; he is also mentioned had been completed at Nicomedeia, it became neces-
by Soranus, de Arte Obstetr. pp. 15, 16, 67, 99, sary to take the field forth with against Carinus,
124, 210, 257, 265; and in Cramer's Anecd. Graecu who was hastening towards Asia at the head of a
Puris
. vol. i. p. 394, and vol. iv. p. 196. [W. A. G. ] numerous and well-disciplined army. The oppos-
DI'OCLES, JULIUS ('lobicos Alokañs), of ing armies met near Margus in upper Moesia, and,
Carystus, the author of four epigrams in the Greek after an obstinate struggle, victory declared for the
Anthology. (Brunck, Anal. ii. 182 ; Jacobs, ii. hardy veterans of the Western legions; but while
167. ) His name implies that he was a Greek, Carinus was hotly pursuing the flying foe be was
and had obtained the Ronan ciritas. Reiske sup- slain by his own officers [CARINUS). His troops,
posed hiin to be the same person as the rhetorician left without a leader, fraternized with their late
Diocles of Carystus, who is often mentioned by enemies, Diocletian was acknowledged by the
Others suppose him to be the same as conjoined armies, and no one appeared prepared to
the physician. The name of the poet himself is dispute his claims. The conqueror used his victory
variously written in the titles to liis epigrams. with praiseworthy and politic moderation. There
(Jacobs, xiii. 882, 883. )
[P. S. ] were no proscriptions, no confiscations, no banish-
Seneca.
3T 2
## p. 1012 (#1032) ##########################################
1012
DIOCLETIANTS.
DIOCLETLANI'S.
mients.
Nearly the whole of the ministrss and | lates, a certain fixed and definite portion being
attendants of the deceased monarch were permitted assigned to each, within which, in the absence of
10 retain their offices, and even the practorian the rest, his jurisdiction should be absolute. All,
praefect Aristobulus was continued in his com- however, being considered as colleagues working
mand. There was little prospect, however, of a together for the accomplishment of the same ohject,
peaceful reign. In addition to the insubordinate the decrces of one were to be binding upon the
spirit which prerailed universally among the rest ; and while cach Caesar was, in a certain de-
soldiery, who had been accustomed for a long grec, subordinate to the Angusti, the three junior
series of years to create and dethrone their rulers members of this mighty partnership were required
according to the suggestions of interest, passion, or distinctly to recognise Diocletian as the head and
caprice, the empire was threatened in the West hy guide of the whole. Accordingly, on the 1st of
a formidable insurrection of the Bagaudae under March 292, Constantius Chlorus and Galerius
Aclianus and Amandus (AELIANUS), in the East were proclaimed Caesars at Nicomedein, and to knit
hy the Persians, and in the North by the turbu- more firmly the connecting bonds, they were both
lent movements of the wild tribes upon the Danube. called upon to repudiate their wives ; upon which
Feeling himself unable to cope single-handed with the former received in marriage Theodoran
, the
80 many difficulties, Diocletian resolved to assume step-daughter of Maximian ; the litter l'aleria, the
a colleague who should enjoy, nominally at least, daughter of Diocletian. In the partition of the pro-
equal rank and power with himself, and relieve vinces the two younger princes were appointed to the
him from the burden of undertaking in person posts of greatest labour and hazard. To Constan-
distant wars. His choice fell upon the brave tius were assigned Britain, Gaul, and Spain, the
and experienced, but rough and unlettered sol- chief seat of governinent being fixed at Treves; to
dier Maximianus [MAXIMIANUS HERCULIUS], Galerius were intrusted Illyricum, and the whole
whom he invested with the title of Augistus, at line of the Danube, with Sirmium for a capital ;
Nicomedeia, in 286. At the same time the asso- Maximian resided at Milan, as governor of Italyand
ciated rulers adopted respectively the epithets of Africa, together with Sicily and the islands of the
Jorius and Herculius, either from some super-Tyrrhenian Sea; while Diocletian retained Thrace,
stitious motire, or, according to the explanation of Egypt, Syria, and Asia in his own hands, and
one of the panegyrists, in order to declare to the established his court at Nicomedein. The immediate
world that while the elder possessed supreme results of this arrangement were most auspicious.
wisdom to devise and direct, the younger could Maximianus routed the Mauritanian hordes. and
exert irresistible might in the execution of all drove them back to their mountain fastnesses,
projects.
while Julian being defeated perished by his own
The new emperor hastened to quell, by his hands ; Divcletian invested Alexandria, which was
presence, the disturbances in Gaul, and succeeded captured after a siege of eight months, and many
without difficulty in chastising the rebellious boors. thousands of the seditious citizens were slain,
But this achievement was but a poor consolation Busiris and Coptos were levelled with the ground,
for the loss of Britain, and the glory of the two and all Egypt, struck with terror by the success
Augusti was dimmed by their forced acquiescence and severity of the emperor, sank into abject submis-
in the insolent usurpation of Carausius. (CARAU- sion.
