Ctesias was on the Achaemenid side, attending to Artaxerxes II, at the Battle of Cunaxa (401 BC), Jean Adrien Guignet
Ctesias, who lived in the fifth century BC, was physician to the Achaemenid king, Artaxerxes II, whom he accompanied in 401 BC on his expedition against his brother Cyrus the Younger.[1] Ctesias was part of the entourage of King Artaxerxes at the Battle of Cunaxa (401 BC) against Cyrus the Younger and his Greek mercenaries called the Ten Thousand, when Ctesias provided medical assistance to the king by treating his flesh wound.[2] He reportedly was involved in negotiations with the Greeks after the battle, and also helped their Spartan general Clearchus before his execution at the royal court at Babylon.[3]
Ctesias was the author of treatises on rivers and on the Persian revenues as well as an account of India entitled Indica (Ἰνδικά), and of a history of Assyria and Persia in 23 books, entitled Persica (Περσικά) that was written in opposition to Herodotus in the Ionic dialect. Professedly, the work was founded on the Persian Royal Archives.[1]
The first six books of Persica covered the history of Assyria and Babylon to the foundation of the Persian empire in 550 BC by Cyrus the Great; the remaining 17 books covered the years to 398 BC. Of the two histories, abridgments by Photius and fragments are preserved by Athenaeus, Plutarch, Nicolaus of Damascus, and especially Diodorus Siculus, whose second book is derived mainly from Ctesias. As to the worth of Persica, much controversy occurred, both in ancient and modern times.[1] Although many ancient authorities valued the work highly and used it to discredit Herodotus, a modern author writes, "(Ctesias's) unreliability makes Herodotus seem a model of accuracy."[4] Reportedly, Ctesias's account of the Assyrian kings does not reconcile with the cuneiform evidence.[citation needed] The satirist Lucian thought so little of the historical reliability of Ctesias that in his satirical True Story he places Ctesias on an island where the evil were punished. Lucian wrote, "The people who suffered the greatest torment were those who had told lies when they were alive and written mendacious histories; among them were Ctesias of Cnidus, Herodotus, and many others."[5]
Some absurd claims form part of Indica, such as the stories of a race of people with only one leg, or with feet so big they could be used as an umbrella
A record of the view that the Persians held of India was written by Ctesias under the title Indica. It includes descriptions of artisans, philosophers, and people having the qualities of deities, as well as accounts of unquantifiable gold, among other riches and wonders.[7] The work is of value as it records the beliefs of the Persians about India.[1] The book only remains in fragments and in reports made about the book by later authors.
Referencesedit
^ abcdOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ctesias". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 594.
^"The first certain event related to Ctesias is his medical assistance to the king during the battle of Cunaxa and his treatment of his flesh wound (Plut. Art. 11.3) in 401 BCE" in Dąbrowa, Edward (2014). The Greek World in the 4th and 3rd Centuries BC: Electrum vol. 19. Wydawnictwo UJ. p. 13. ISBN9788323388197.
^Dąbrowa, Edward (2014). The Greek World in the 4th and 3rd Centuries BC: Electrum vol. 19. Wydawnictwo UJ. pp. 13–14. ISBN9788323388197.
^Peter Frederick Barker, From The Scamander To Syracuse, Studies In Ancient Logistics, page 9, chapter 1.
^"Persepolis". Encyclopedia Britannica. 30 October 2023.
^Lavers, Chris (2009). The Natural History of Unicorns. New York, NY: Morrow. p. 5. ISBN978-0-06-087414-8.
Further readingedit
Ed., trad. et commentaire par Dominique Lenfant, Ctésias de Cnide. La Perse. L'Inde. Autres fragments, Collection Budé, Belles Lettres, Paris, 2004 (ISBN2251005188).
ctesias, genus, beetle, greek, Κτησίᾱς, fifth, century, also, known, cnidus, greek, physician, historian, from, town, cnidus, caria, then, part, achaemenid, empire, contents, historical, events, persica, indica, references, further, reading, external, linkshis. For the genus see Ctesias beetle Ctesias ˈ t iː ʒ e s Greek Kthsiᾱs fl fifth century BC also known as Ctesias of Cnidus was a Greek physician and historian from the town of Cnidus in Caria then part of the Achaemenid Empire Contents 1 Historical events 2 Persica 3 Indica 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistorical events edit nbsp Ctesias was on the Achaemenid side attending to Artaxerxes II at the Battle of Cunaxa 401 BC Jean Adrien GuignetCtesias who lived in the fifth century BC was physician to the Achaemenid king Artaxerxes II whom he accompanied in 401 BC on his expedition against his brother Cyrus the Younger 1 Ctesias was part of the entourage of King Artaxerxes at the Battle of Cunaxa 401 BC against Cyrus the Younger and his Greek mercenaries called the Ten Thousand when Ctesias provided medical assistance to the king by treating his flesh wound 2 He reportedly was involved in negotiations with the Greeks after the battle and also helped their Spartan general Clearchus before his execution at the royal court at Babylon 3 Ctesias was the author of treatises on rivers and on the Persian revenues as well as an account of India entitled Indica Ἰndika and of a history of Assyria and Persia in 23 books entitled Persica Persika that was written in opposition to Herodotus in the Ionic dialect Professedly the work was founded on the Persian Royal Archives 1 Persica editMain article Persica Ctesias The first six books of Persica covered the history of Assyria and Babylon to the foundation of the Persian empire in 550 BC by Cyrus the Great the remaining 17 books covered the years to 398 BC Of the two histories abridgments by Photius and fragments are preserved by Athenaeus Plutarch Nicolaus of Damascus and especially Diodorus Siculus whose second book is derived mainly from Ctesias As to the worth of Persica much controversy occurred both in ancient and modern times 1 Although many ancient authorities valued the work highly and used it to discredit Herodotus a modern author writes Ctesias s unreliability makes Herodotus seem a model of accuracy 4 Reportedly Ctesias s account of the Assyrian kings does not reconcile with the cuneiform evidence citation needed The satirist Lucian thought so little of the historical reliability of Ctesias that in his satirical True Story he places Ctesias on an island where the evil were punished Lucian wrote The people who suffered the greatest torment were those who had told lies when they were alive and written mendacious histories among them were Ctesias of Cnidus Herodotus and many others 5 According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica Ctesias mentioned that the grave of Darius I at Persepolis was in a cliff face that could be reached with an apparatus of ropes 6 Indica editMain article Indica Ctesias nbsp Some absurd claims form part of Indica such as the stories of a race of people with only one leg or with feet so big they could be used as an umbrellaA record of the view that the Persians held of India was written by Ctesias under the title Indica It includes descriptions of artisans philosophers and people having the qualities of deities as well as accounts of unquantifiable gold among other riches and wonders 7 The work is of value as it records the beliefs of the Persians about India 1 The book only remains in fragments and in reports made about the book by later authors References edit a b c d nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Ctesias Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 7 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 594 The first certain event related to Ctesias is his medical assistance to the king during the battle of Cunaxa and his treatment of his flesh wound Plut Art 11 3 in 401 BCE in Dabrowa Edward 2014 The Greek World in the 4th and 3rd Centuries BC Electrum vol 19 Wydawnictwo UJ p 13 ISBN 9788323388197 Dabrowa Edward 2014 The Greek World in the 4th and 3rd Centuries BC Electrum vol 19 Wydawnictwo UJ pp 13 14 ISBN 9788323388197 Peter Frederick Barker From The Scamander To Syracuse Studies In Ancient Logistics page 9 chapter 1 Lucian A True Story 2 31 Persepolis Encyclopedia Britannica 30 October 2023 Lavers Chris 2009 The Natural History of Unicorns New York NY Morrow p 5 ISBN 978 0 06 087414 8 Further reading editEd trad et commentaire par Dominique Lenfant Ctesias de Cnide La Perse L Inde Autres fragments Collection Bude Belles Lettres Paris 2004 ISBN 2251005188 Schmitt Rudiger 1993 CTESIAS Encyclopaedia Iranica Vol VI Fasc 4 pp 441 446 Jan P Stronk Ctesias Persian History Part I Introduction Text and Translation Wellem Verlag Dusseldorf 2010 ISBN 9783941820012 Andrew G Nichols Ctesias On India Translation and Commentary Duckworth 2011 ISBN 1 85399 742 0 Lloyd Llewellyn Jones and James Robson Ctesias History of Persia Tales of the Orient Oxford 2010 ISBN 9780415364119 External links editCtesias of Cnidus Overview of all fragments of the Persica and Indica by Jona Lendering Photius Excerpt of Ctesias Persica translated by J H Freese 1920 Photius Excerpt of Ctesias Indica translated by J H Freese 1920 Greek text Muller 1858 Texts of Ctesias Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ctesias amp oldid 1191155676, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
