2016/07/01 by Lisa Irene Hau · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Classical Antiquity Studies #Piety #Context (archaeology) #Virtue #Argument (complex analysis) #Literature #Power (physics) #History #Philosophy #Classics #Epistemology #Art #Religious studies #Archaeology
paper · doi:10.3366/edinburgh/9781474411073.003.0003
openalex publication_date 2016/07/01 · openalex created_date 2022/05/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
This chapter begins with a brief discussion of the Diodorus source problem and its bearing on the argument. It then offers a thorough analysis of the moral-didactic lessons and moralising techniques of Diodorus Siculus. It finds that Diodorus’ story universe is governed by divine forces, which are largely just, and that this makes piety the cardinal virtue of his historical actors. Diodorus also condemns brutality and cruel behaviour in any context, and especially when perpetrated against civilians or prisoners of war. Throughout, he recommends <italic>epieikeia</italic>, decent treatment of those in one’s power, as the most moral and most practically beneficial course. The chapter ends with an overview of differences in moralising between parts of Diodorus’ work based on different sources and briefly hypothesises about the moralising of these sources, some of which are going to be analysed in more detail in chapter 3.