Listed 22 sub titles with search on: Biographies for wider area of: "HALKIDIKI Province MAKEDONIA CENTRAL" .
KASSANDRIA (Small town) HALKIDIKI
One of the most eminent poets of the New Comedy at Athens, a native of Cassandrea, in Macedonia. He began to exhibit for the first time in the third year after the death of Menander, or in B.C. 289. Of his pieces, as many as forty are mentioned by name, but only fragments of them are preserved. It was probably in imitation of one of these that the Menaechmi of Plautus was written.
Posidippus wrote thirty, or, as some have it, fifty comedies; the
titles of fifteen of these are known, and some of them were Latinized. He began
to exhibit in 289 B.C., two years after the death of Menander, and was one of
the most popular of the new comedians.
Of the new comedy, and of Greek comedy proper, Posidippus was the
last exponent. Other writers have indeed been mentioned, as Rhinthon of Tarentum,
Sopater of Paphos, and Sotades
of Crete, but the tragi-comedy
of Rhinthon was called by a name which signifies "meaningless chatter," and the
indecency of the Sotadean plays made them a by-word of reproach. All belonged
to the age of the Ptolemies, and with the transplanting of Hellenic comedy from
Athens to Alexandria, the
classic drama of Greece was dead.
Alfred Bates, ed.
This text is cited July 2003 from the TheatreHistory URL below.
POTIDEA (Ancient city) HALKIDIKI
Poseidippus or Posidippus (Poseidippos, Posidippos, both forms are found in MSS;
the inscription on the statue in the Vatican gives the former).
1. An Athenian comic poet of the New Comedy, was the son of Cyniscus, and a native
of Cassandreia in Macedonia. He is one of the six who are mentioned by the anonymous
writer on Comedy as the most celebrated poets of the New Comedy. In time, he was
the last, not only of these six, but of all the poets of the New Comedy. He began
to exhibit dramas in the third year after the death of Menander, that is, in Ol.
122. 3, B. C. 289, so that his time falls just at the era in Greek literary history
which is marked by the accession of Ptolemy Philadelphus (Suid. s. v.).
Of the events of the poet's life nothing is known; but his portrait
is preserved to us in the beautiful sitting statue in the Vatican, which, with
the accompanying statue of Menander, is esteemed by Winckelmann and others as
among the finest works of Greek sculpture which have come down to us.
Athenaeus (xiv.) mentions a letter of the comic poet and grammarian,
Lynceus of Samos, to Poseidippus.
In his language, Meineke has detected some new words, and old words in new senses,
totally unknown to the best Attic writers.
According to Suidas, he wrote forty plays, of which the following
eighteen titles are preserved: Anablepon, Apokleiomene, Galates, Demotai, Hermaphroditos,
Epistathmos, Ephesia, Kodon, Dokrides, Metapheromenoi, Murmex, Homoioi, Paidion,
Pornodoskos, Suntrophoi, Philosophoi, Philopator, Choreuousai.. The extant fragments
of these plays are not sufficient to enable us to form an accurate judgment of
the poet's style; but it seems, from the titles, that some of his plays were of
a licentious character. Gellius (ii. 23) mentions him among the Greek comedians
who were imitated by the Latin poets.
2. An epigrammatic poet, who was probably a different person from the comic poet,
since he is mentioned with the appellation ho epigrammatographos (Schol. in Apoll.
Rhod. i. 1289). He seems, however, to have lived about the same time as the comic
poet, since Zeno and Cleanthes, who were contemporary with the latter, are mentioned
in one of his epigrams (No. 11), and another epigram (No. 21) is upon the temple
which Ptolemy Philadelphus erected in honour of his sister and wife Arsinoe. He
is several times referred to by Athenaeus, Stephanus Byzantinus, and the grammarians.
His epigrams formed a part of the Garland of Meleager, who appears to mention
him as a Sicilian (Prooem. 45, 46); and twenty-two of them are preserved in the
Greek Anthology; but some of these are also ascribed to Asclepiades and Callimachus.
One of his epigrams, that on the statue of Opportunity by Lysippus (No. 13), is
imitated by Ausonius (Epig. 12).
Athenaeus (xiii.) quotes the Aithiopia of Poseidippus, and elsewhere his Asopia,
which seem to have been epic poems, and which Schweighauser is probably right
in referring to the author of the epigrams.
3. An historian, who wrote a work respecting Cnidus, which contained several particulars
respecting the Venus of Praxiteles. (Clem. Alex. Protrept.; Arnob. vi. 13.) He
is also cited by Tzetzes, who concludes his quotation with an epigram by Poseidippus
(Chil. vii. 144). From this and other circumstances it appears very probable that
this historian was the same person as the epigrammatist.
This text is from: A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1873 (ed. William Smith). Cited July 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
OLYNTHOS (Ancient city) HALKIDIKI
Andronicus (Andronikos), of Olinthus, who is probably the same as the son of Agerrhus mentioned by Arrian (Anab. iii. 23), was one of the four generals appointed by Antigonus to form the military council of the young Demetrius, in B. C. 314. He commanded the right wing of Demetrius' army at the battle of Gaza in 312, and after the loss of the battle, and the subsequent retreat of Demetrius, was left in command of Tyre. He refused to surrender the city to Ptolemy, who, however, obtained possession of it, but spared the life of Andronicus, who fell into his hands. (Diod. xix. 69, 86)
Apollonides. An Olynthian general who used his influence at Olynthus against Philip of Macedonia. The king, with the assistance of his intriguing agents in that town, contrived to induce the people to send Apollonides into exile. (Demosth. Philip. iii. pp. 125, 128.) Apollonides went to Athens, where he was honoured with the civic franchise; but being found unworthy, he was afterwards deprived of it. (Demosth. c. Neaer.)
Epicyides. Of Olynthus, a general under Ophellas of Cyrene, who took Thimbron prisoner at Teuchira. (Arr. ap. Phot. p. 70, a.)
MIKYVERNA (Ancient city) HALKIDIKI
Hegesippus. A Greek historian or topographer of Mecyberna, who wrote an account of the peninsula of Pallene. He is mentioned by Dionysius among andres archaioi kai logou axioi. (Ant. Romn. i. 49 ; Steph. Byz. s.v. Pallene and Mekuberna; Vossius, de Hist. Graec. p. 448, ed. Westerimann.)
OLYNTHOS (Ancient city) HALKIDIKI
Callisthenes (Kallisthenes). A Greek historian, born at Olynthus about B.C. 360. He was a relation of Aristotle, from whom he received instruction at the same time as Alexander the Great. He accompanied Alexander on his Asiatic campaign, and offended him by refusing to pay him servile homage after the Persian fashion, and by other daring exhibitions of independence. The consequence was that the king threw his friend into prison on the pretext that he was concerned in a conspiracy against his life. Callisthenes died in captivity in B.C. 328, in consequence, probably, of maltreatment. Of his historical writings, particularly those dealing with the exploits of Alexander, only fragments remain; but he was always ranked among the most famous historians. Indeed, his reputation as the companion of Alexander and the historian of his achievements maintained itself so well that he was made responsible in literature for the romantic narrative of Alexander's life which grew up in the following centuries. This was translated into Latin towards the end of the third century a.d by Iulius Valerius, and became the main authority for the mediaeval adaptations of the myth of Alexander.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Apr 2003 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Callisthenes (Kallisthenes), a philosopher, born at Olynthus. His mother, Hero,
was a cousin of Aristotle's, and by him Callisthenes was brought up, studying
under him at Stageira, together, as we may infer, with Alexander, and certainly
with Theophrastus, with whom Aristotle is said to have contrasted him, saying,
that Theophrastus needed the rein, but Callisthenes the spu. When Alexander set
forth on his Asiatic expedition, B. C. 334, he took Callisthenes with him by Aristotle's
recommendation. The latter, however, was aware of the faults of his kinsman's
character, of his total want of tact and prudence, and of his wrong-headed propensity
to the unseasonable exhibition of his independent spirit; and against these he
warned him to guard in his intercourse with the king. The warning was give in
vain. Callisthenes became indignant at Alexander's adoption of oriental customs,
and especially at the requirement of the ceremony of adoration, which he deemed
derogatory to free Greeks and Macedonians; and it may be that he was the more
open in the expression of his sentiments, because of the opposite extreme of supple
flattery adopted by his opponent Anaxarchus. When Alexander was overwhelmed with
remorse for the murder of Cleitus, both these philosophers were sent to console
him; but the suggestions of Callisthenes, though apparently on this occasion more
judicious than usual, were quite eclipsed by the bold adulation of Anaxarchus,
who openly affirmed, that "whatever kings did, must therefore of necessity be
lawful and just". Several anecdotes are recorded by Arrian and Plutarch, illustrative
of the freedom of language in which Callisthenes indulged, and of his coarse and
unconciliating demeanour -qualities which, while they alienated the king from
him and procured him a number of enemies, rendered him also popular with many
who looked on Alexander's innovations with a jealous eye; and the young men in
particular are said to have flocked to hear his discourses, regarding him as the
only free-spirited man in the royal retinue. It was this which ultimately proved
fatal to him. When the plot of Hermolaus and others to assassinate Alexander was
discovered, Callisthenes was involved in the charge. Aristobulus and Ptolemy indeed
both asserted in their histories that Hermolaus and his accomplices, when under
the torture, had named him as the chief instigator of their attempt; but this
is rendered at least doubtful by a letter on the subject from Alexander himself
to Craterus, which is preserved by Plutarch (Alex. 55), and in which the sufferers
are expressly said to have denied that any one was privy to their design. It would
seem more probable that the suspicions of Alexander were excited or revived, after
the death of the traitors, by the suggestions of the enemies of Callisthenes,
acting on a mind already exasperated against him. Every rash expression he had
ever used, every rhetorical common-place he had ever uttered on the patriotism
and glory of regicides, were raked up and made to tell against him. In another
letter, written by Alexander to Antipater, subsequently to the one above-mentioned,
and also quoted by Plutarch the king expresses his intention of "punishing the
sophist and those who sent him out", the last words being, as Plutarch thinks,
a clear allusion to Aristotle. The mode in which Callisthenes was put to death
(about B. C. 328) is variously reported. Even the contemporary writers, Ptolemy
and Aristobulus, differed on the point. Aristobulus recorded, that he was carried
about in chains and died of disease; Ptolemy, that he was tortured and crucified.
The former account, however, seems to agree with that of Chares of Mytilene, who
was eisangeleus, or lord-in-waiting, to Alexander and who related that he was
kept in confinement with the intention of bringing him ultimately to trial in
the presence of Aristotle; but that, after an imprisonment of seven months, he
died of a disgusting disease arising from his excessive corpulence. The accounts
preserved in Justin and Diogenes Laertius (one of which is a perversion of the
other, while the former is clearly a romance) are entitled to less credit (Arrian,
Anab. iv. 10-14; Plut. Alex. 52-55, Sull. 36; Curt. viii. 5-8; Just. xii. 6, 7,
xv. 3; Diog. Laert. v. 4, 5, 39; Menag. ad Diog. Laert. v. 4, 5; Suidas, s. v.
Kallisthenes).
Some manuscripts are still extant, professing to contain writings
of Callisthenes; but they are spurious, and none of his works have come down to
us. Besides an account of Alexander's expedition (which he arrogantly said would
be the main support of the conqueror's glory, and which is referred to in several
places by Plutarch and Strabo), he also wrote a history of Greece, in ten books,
from the peace of Antalcidas to the seizure of the Delphic temple by Philomelus
(B. C. 387-357). Cicero mentions too a work of his on the Trojan war. The loss,
however, of his writings we have not much reason to regret, if we may trust the
criticisms passed on them by those to whom they were known. Thus Polybius censures
him for his unskilfulness in his relation of military affairs; Cicero finds fault
with his style as fitted rather for rhetorical declamation than for history, and
contrasts it with that of Xenophon; and Strabo speaks disparagingly of his accuracy
and veracity. He seems indeed to have been far more a rhetorician than either
a philosopher or a historian, and, even as a rhetorician, to have had more of
the spirit of Isocrates than of his own great master. His readiness and fluency,
no less than his extreme indiscretion, are illustrated by the anecdote given by
Plutarch (Alex. 53) of his speaking with great applause in praise of the Macedonians
at a banquet, and then, on Alexander's challenging him to take the other side,
launching forth into the bitterest invective against them. In philosophy he probably
followed Aristotle, so far indeed as he threw himself into any system at all.
The recension of Homer (he apo narthekos), kept by Alexander in a precious casket,
and usually ascribed to Aristotle, was made, according to Strabo (xiii.), by Callisthenes
and Anaxarchus (Diod. iv. 1, xiv. 117, xvi. 14; Cic. ad Fam. v. 15, ad Q. Fratr.
ii. 12, de Orat. ii. 14, de Dix. i. 34, ii. 25; Strab. xi., xii., xiv, xvii.;
Plut. Alex. 27, 33; Polyb. xii. 17-21; Suidas, l. c.) .
This text is from: A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1873 (ed. William Smith). Cited Nov 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Ephippus, (Ephippos), of Olynthus, a Greek historian of Alexander the Great. It is commonly believed, though no reason is assigned, that Ephippus lived about or shortly after the time of Alexander. There is however a passage in Arrian (Anab. iii. 5.4) which would determine the age of Ephippus very accurately, if it could be proved that the Ephippus there mentioned is identical with the historian. Arrian says, that Alexander before leaving Egypt appointed Aeschylus (the Rhlodian) and Ephippus ton Chalkideos, superintendants (episkopoi) of the administration of Egypt. The reading ton Chalkideos, though adopted by the recent editors of Arrian, is not in all MSS., and some editions read Chalkidona or Chalkedona; but if we might emend Chalkideaa, we should have reason for supposing that the person mentioned by Arrian is the same as Ephippus of Olynthus, for Olynthus was the principal town in Chalcidice, and Ephippus night just as well be called a native of Olynthus as of Chalcidice. If the Ephippus then in Arrian be the same as the historian, he was a contemporary of Alexander and survived him for some time, for he wrote an account of the king's burial. The work of Ephippus is distinctly referred to by Athenaeus only, though Diodorus and others also seem to have made use of it. Athenaeus calls it in some passages peri tes Alexandron kai Hephaistionos metallages, and in others he has taphes or teleutes instead of metallages, so that at all events we must conclude that it contained an account of the burial of Alexander as well as of his death. From the few fragments still extant, it would appear that Ephippus described more the private and personal character of his heroes than their public careers. (Athen. iii., iv., x. , xii.) It should be remarked that by a singular mistake Suidas in his article Ephippus gives an account of Ephorus of Cumae. Pliny (Elench. lib. xii., xiii.) mentions one Ephippus among the authorities he consulted upon plants, and it is generally believed that he is a different person from our historian; but all the writers whom Pliny mentions along with him, belong to the period of Alexander, so that it is by no means improbable that he may be Ephippus of Olynthus. All that is known about Ephippus and the fragments of his work, is collected by R. Geier, in his Alexandri Magni Histor. Scriptores, actate suppares, Lips. 1844.
This text is from: A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1873 (ed. William Smith). Cited Oct 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
POTIDEA (Ancient city) HALKIDIKI
Aristobulus, (Aristoboulos). A Greek historian, who in his youth accompanied
Alexander the Great on his campaigns. In his eighty-fifth year, when living at
Cassandrea in Thrace, he wrote a work upon Alexander, in which he recorded his
careful observations on geography, ethnography, and natural science. The book
is highly praised for its trustworthiness, but only fragments of it have reached
us. He and Ptolemy were the chief authorities for Arrian's Anabasis.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Mar 2003 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Aristobulus (Aristoboulos) of Cassandreia, the son of Aristobulus, one of the
companions of Alexander the Great in his Asiatic conquests, wrote a history of
Alexander, which was one of the chief sources used by Arrian in the composition
of his work. Aristoblius lived to the age of ninety, and did not begin to write
his history till he was eighty-four (Lucian, Macrob. 22). His work is also frequently
referred to by Athenaeus (ii., vi., x., xii.), Plutarch (Alex. cc. 15, 16, 18,
21, 46, 75), and Strabo (xi., xiv., xv., xvi, xvii). The anecdote which Lucian
relates (Quoslodo hist. conscrib. c. 12) about Aristobulus is supposed by modern
writers to refer to Onesicritus.
Plutarch refers to a work upon stones, and another upon the affairs
of Italy, written by an Aristobulus, but whether he is the same person as the
preceding, is uncertain. (Plut. de Fluv. c. 14. Parall. Min. c. 32.)
This text is from: A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1873 (ed. William Smith). Cited Oct 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
MENDI (Ancient city) KASSANDRA
Bolus, (Bolos). Under this name Suidas, and Eudocia after him, mention a Pythagorean
phiicropher of Mende, to whom they ascribe several works, which are otherwise
entirely unknown. From this Pythagorean, Suidas distinguishes a Bolus who was
a philosopher of the school of Democritus, who wrote on medicine and also an historical
work. But, from a passage of Columella (vii. 5; comp. Stobaeus, Serm. 51), it
appears that Bolus of Mende and the follower of Democritus were one and the same
person; and he seems to have lived subsequently to the time of Theophrastus, whose
work on plants he appears to have known. (Steph. Byz. s. v. Apsunthos; Schol.
ad Nicand. Theriac. 764.)
This text is from: A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1873 (ed. William Smith). Cited Sep 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Antimoerus (Antimoiros), a sophist, was a native of Mende in Thrace, and is mentioned with praise among the disciples of Protagoras. (Plat. Protag. Themist. Orat. xxix.)
OLYNTHOS (Ancient city) HALKIDIKI
Euphantus, (Euphantos), of Olynthus, a Pythagorean philosopher and tragic poet,
who lived a little later than the period of the tragic Pleiad. He was the disciple
of Eubulides of Miletus, and the instructor of Antigonus I. king of Macedonia.
He wrote many tragedies, which were well received at the games. He also wrote
a very highly esteemed work, peri Basileias, addressed to Antigonus, and a history
of his own times : he lived to a great age. (Diog. Laert. ii. 110, 141.) The Euphantus
whose history is quoted by Athenaeus (vi.) must have been a different person,
since he mentioned Ptolemy III. of Egypt. (Vossius, de Hist. Graec., ed. Westermann;
Welcker, die Griech. Tragoed.)
This text is from: A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1873 (ed. William Smith). Cited Oct 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
POTIDEA (Ancient city) HALKIDIKI
The daughter of Ptolemy I. of Egypt and Berenice. She married Lysimachus, king of Thrace, who was already advanced in years, by whom she had several children. Lysimachus, setting out for Asia, left her in Macedouia, with two sons, Lysimachus and Philip, a part of the fruits of their union. This monarch having been slain in an expedition, Ptolemy Ceraunus seized on Macedonia, but could not take the city of Cassandria, where Arsinoe had taken refuge with her children. He therefore offered her his hand in marriage, and with much difficulty obtained her consent. But no sooner had he been admitted into the city for the purpose of celebrating the nuptials, than he caused her two sons to be slain, and exiled Arsinoe herself to Samothrace. From this island she soon took her departure to wed Ptolemy Philadelphus, her own brother, the first instance of this kind of union, and which became afterwards so common in the time of the Ptolemies. Although many years older than Ptolemy, she nevertheless inspired him with such a passion that, after her death, he gave her name to one of the nomes of Egypt (Arsinoitis), and to several cities both in that country and elsewhere. He even gave orders to have a temple erected to her, but his own death and that of the architect prevented the fulfilment of his wishes. It was intended to have had the ceiling of loadstone, and the statue of iron, in order that the latter might appear to be suspended in the air ( Plin. H. N.xxxiv. 14).
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Mar 2003 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
The daughter of Antipater, regent of Macedonia, and celebrated as one of the noblest and most virtuous women of the age in which she lived. She was married to Craterus in B.C. 322, and after the death of Craterus, who survived his marriage with her scarcely a year, she was again married to the young Demetrius, the son of Antigonus. She shared with her husband his various vicissitudes of fortune; but when he was expelled from Macedonia in B.C. 287, she put an end to her own life at Cassandrea, unable to bear this unexpected reverse. She left two children by Demetrius--Antigonus, surnamed Gonatas, who became king of Macedonia; and a daughter, Stratonice, married first to Seleucus, and afterwards to his son Antiochus ( Plut. Demetr.14-45; Diod.xx. 93).
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Mar 2003 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
MENDI (Ancient city) KASSANDRA
Perseus Encyclopedia
Paeonius, (Paionios). A Greek sculptor of Mende in Thrace. About B.C. 436 he was employed in the decoration of the temple of Zeus in Olympia. According to Pausanias, he was the sculptor of the marble groups in the front, or eastern, pediment of the temple, representing the preparations for the chariot-race between Pelops and Oenomaus. Important portions of these have been brought to light by German excavators. He was also the sculptor of the figure of Nike, more than life-size, dedicated by the Messenians, which has been restored to us by the same means. With the exception of the head, it is in fairly good preservation.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
POTIDEA (Ancient city) HALKIDIKI
Apollodorus. Tyrant of Cassandreia (formerly Potidaea) in the peninsula of Pallene.
He at first pretended to be a friend of the people; but when he had gained their
confidence, he formed a conspiracy for the purpose of making himself tyrant, and
bound his accomplices by most barbarous ceremonies described in Diodorus (xxii.
Exc.) When he had gained his object, about B. C. 279, he began his tyrannical
reign, which in cruelty, rapaciousness, and debauchery, has seldom been equalled
in any country. The ancients mention him along with the most detestable tyrants
that ever lived (Polyb. vii. 7; Seneca, De Ira, ii. 5, De Benef. vii. 19). But
notwithstanding the support which he derived from the Gauls, who were then penetrating
southward, he was unable to maintain himself, and was conquered and put to death
by Antigonus Gonatas (Polyaen. vi. 7, iv. 6, 18 ; Aelian, V. H. xiv. 41; Hist.
An. v. 15; Plut. De Sera Num. Vind. 10, 11; Paus. iv. 5.1; Heinsius, ad Ovid.
ex Pont. ii. 9. 43).
This text is from: A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1873 (ed. William Smith). Cited Oct 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
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