Dio Cocceianus Chrysostomus, ca. 40–ca. 120 CE, of Prusa in Bithynia, Asia Minor, inherited with his brothers large properties and debts from his generous father Pasicrates. He became a skilled rhetorician hostile to philosophers. But in the course of his travels he went to Rome in Vespasian's reign (69–79) and was converted to Stoicism. Strongly critical of the emperor Domitian (81–96) he was about 82 banned by him from Italy and Bithynia and wandered in poverty, especially in lands north of the Aegean, as far as the Danube and the primitive Getae. In 97 he spoke publicly to Greeks assembled at Olympia, was welcomed at Rome by emperor Nerva (96–98), and returned to Prusa. Arriving again at Rome on an embassy of thanks about 98–99 he became a firm friend of emperor Trajan. In 102 he travelled to Alexandria and elsewhere. Involved in a lawsuit about plans to beautify Prusa at his own expense, he stated his case before the governor of Bithynia, Pliny the Younger, 111–112. The rest of his life is unknown.
Nearly all of Dio's extant Discourses (or Orations) reflect political concerns (the most important of them dealing with affairs in Bithynia and affording valuable details about conditions in Asia Minor) or moral questions (mostly written in later life; they contain much of his best writing). Some philosophical and historical works, including one on the Getae, are lost. What survives of his achievement as a whole makes him prominent in the revival of Greek literature in the last part of the first century and the first part of the second.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Dio Chrysostom is in five volumes.
- 37. Corinthian Discourse 2
- 38. On Concord With the Nicaeans 48
- 39. On Concord in Nicaea 94
- 40. On Concord With Apameia 106
- 41. To the Apameians 149
- 42. Address in His Native City 165
- 43. A Political Address 172
- 44. Of Friendship for His Native Land 189
- 45. In Defence of His Relations With Prusa 204
- 46. Against Mistreatment by His Fellow Citizens 226
- 47. His Efforts to Beautify Prusa 243
- 48. A Political Address 272
- 49. Declining Office as Archon 292
- 50. In Defence of His Record 310
- 51. In Reply to Diodorus 324
- 52. An Appraisal of the Tragic Triad 336
- 53. On Homer 355
- 54. On Socrates 371
- 55. On Homer and Socrates 378
- 56. On Kingship 401
- 57. Homer’s Portrayal of Nestor 417
- 58. A Dialogue Between Achilles and Cheiron 431
- 59. Philoctetes, A Paraphrase 438
- 60. On the Story of Deïaneira 451
- Index 462