Table Of Content'Nur der der nichts weiß
weiß es ganz bestimmt'.
(THEODOR FONTANE)
The rather scanty evidence we have for the famous or notorious fifth century atheist has
been augmented recently by a Life of him preserved as part of the biography of Zenon the
Eleatic, in the book of the Arabian philosopher Abü-L-Uafä'Al-Mubassir Ibn Fátik (middle
of the 11th century) which was published and treated thoroughly by FRANZ ROSENTHAL1).
As the new testimony, which deserves to be known more widely, seems to throw light on
some problems concerning Diagoras, more particularly on his chronology and the vexed
question when he was outlawed by Athens, we should avail ourselves of this piece of good
luck for a fresh attempt to reconstruct the life of the man and to come to a better under-
standing of his literary (and perhaps not only his literary) activity. As my results differ
considerably from piior attempts2), it seems best to give in advance a survey of our evidence
disposed according to the different character of the sources3). That is all the more desirable
as Diagoras is omitted in DIELS* Fragmente der Vorsokratiker, and as the gap (if gap it is)4)
is not filled in the posthumous re-edition made by KRANZ in 1934/7.
A. The Evidence
I. Contemporary 1) ARISTOPH. Nub. 826/30 (a. 423): ópais oöv «s áya-9óv TÓ nav3á-
vetv; / OÚK Écniv CÍ> Oei5nrrríSr| ZEÚS. — áAAa TÍS; / — AI vos PCCCTIXEÚEI TÓV AÍ' é^eÁriAccKcós. /
... —TÍS <pT|CTi TOÜTOC; — 2CÚKPÁRR|s i> Minios/ KaiXaipEífWV, os OISE Ta yuAAcov ÍXVT|5). 2) ARI-
STOPH. Av. 1071/8 (a. 414): TfjiSe névTOi 3' f¡|jépcxi liáXior' á-rravayopEÚETar / «f|V áiTOKTeívr|i
TIS únwv Aiayópav TÓV Mr|Aiov, / Aaußaveiv TÓAOCVTOV, f| V TE TWV Tvpávvcov TÍS TI va / TWV TESVT)-
KOTWV CTTTOKTEÍVT|l, TÓcAaVTOV AapßctVElV.» / ßOjA0H£CR9' OÖV VUV ÖtVTElTTElV TOUTCT X^I^'S Év3Ó(5£• /
«f|v QTTOKTEÍvr|i TIS fyiwv <t>iAoKpócTr| TÓV 5/rpoúSiov, / ARIYETAI TÓcAairrov, f|v Sé JCOVT' ¿ara-
yáyr)i, Té-rrapa ...».
3) ARISTOPH. Ran. 318/20 (a. 405): TOUT' ICTT' éxelv", CÓ 8écrrToS'• ot penuripévoi / évrccü9á TTOU Traljoucnv,
0Ö5 SIPPAJE vcoiv* I áiSouai yoöv TÓV "IOÍKXOV övmp Aiayópa; (?). 4) SCHOL. ARISTOPH. Ran. 320
(SUDA s. "Iokxos): yéyove Sé Kal ixcpos (seil. Diagoras) KcopwiSoupEvo; éirl psyÉSer "Epunnros év Molpais
(I 235,42 K. a. 430 B.C.))" «píí^cov yap F) vOv SI") "orí, Kal SOKEI yé poi, / táv TOCTOOTOV ITTIBISCOI 8»' r^épas/
laecSai Atayópou TOÜ TepSpÉcos.
5) [Lysias] KOCT' 'AVSOK. 17 (a. 399?): TOCTOÖTO SÉ OÜTOS Aiayópou TOÜ MriAIou áaepéorepos
yEyévqTctr ÉKEÍVOS név yótp Aóycoi irspi TCC dcAAÓTpia ispa. Kal éopTcts r]aiߣi, OUTOS SÉ í!pywi
uepl Ta év Tfji OCÚTOO iróAei .. . (18) Kal urj oüs név ÉxeT£ áSiKOuvTas ácpÍETe, TOÚS 6é epeú-
10 óvircp: wa-trep Sud. s. "IOKXOS Aiayópa; R<I>Vmg Schol., RSud. Si' áyopas V cp. Sohol. 320 (Hesych.
B. v. Aiayópcts) Kal 6 név 'ApfaTapxos Aiayópou vOv PVTI^OVEÚEIV ftialv oify üs ÓISOVTOS airroü TOÚS SEOCIS, áAV
év EtpcúvElai KEIIJÉVOU TOÖ Aóyou ÓVTI TOÖ X^EUÓJOVTOS, é£opxounévovr . .. ol 6é TÓ Al A TOPAS TTEPICTTTCOCTIV, cbs
'AiroAAóScjpo; (AióScopos Heg.; see COHN RE V 708 nr. 51) ó Taparós, KAI <paoiv "IOCK/OV AÉyeiv, 6v SiSou-
aiv ÓCTTECOS 8ia Tfjs áyopas éfióvTES els 'EAeuaiva 11 UEYÉSTI 0 Sud PEYÉSOUS V | Moípai; Sud núpois V
12 PEÍ^COV yäp f| vOv Sií 'CTTI BERGE PEÍJCOV yap fjv. vöv B' Sari (St Sari VG) Schol. Sud PEIJOÍV yáp f) vüv ÉOTI
TOUP yé poi BEECK 8é (om. 6) POI Schol. 6T*| poi Sud | TOCOÜTOV é-rriSiSñi Bi' fipépas DINDOBF káv
TI TOÚTCOV éTriBÍScorai (-oiai G8) Tiuépas Schol. táv Tts (TI V) émBiScoi Tfjs fipépas Sud é-rnSiSwi KaS' fiuépav
6TI TOUP 13 ícjeaSai Schol. íorai Sud IT' lorai edit. Mediol. | Aiayópou TOÜ TfipSpécos (cp. s. TepSpeús,
ívopa KÚpiov) Sud Aiayópou (om. T. T.) Schol.
4 FELIX JACOBY
yovrots JT|TSIT6 ovAAaußdveiv, ITTIKTIPIITTOVRE; TAXOCVTOV dpyvplou SCOCTEIV TCOI d-rrdyovTi F|
dTTOKTfilvCCVTl.
II. Documentary 1) SCHOL. RV ARISTOPH. Av. 1073 (SUDA s. Aioyöpas MiiAios
gl. 2): Aiayöpav TÖV Mr|Aiov (a) OÜTOS HETÖ TTJV dAcoaiv Mr|Aov (winter 416/5 B.C.) WIKEI 4V
'ASf|vais, TQ( 84 (iuorf|pia T|C/T4AI3EV, cbs -rroAAous ¿KTpiireiv Tfjs TEÄETFJS. TOÜTO OUV EKRIPU^AV
Korr' OCVTOÖ 'A3r|vaioi Kai Iv xaAKfji arr|Ar|i Eypayav, cos q>RIAI MeAdvSios EV TMI TTepl nvcrrriplcov
<FGrHist326F3>. (b) äAAcos' Taüra 4KTOÜ vyr^lanaTOS EIAR|cpEV. OUTGOS yap EKr|pu£av TCOI
y4v öaroKTEivavTi [OCUTÖV] TAAÖVTOV Äaußdveiv, TCOI 84 ayoirri 6ÜO. EKripOx^RI 64 TOOTO 8IA TÖ
dae(34S aüroö, 4TTEI Td nuarripia Träai SiriyelTO, KCHVOTTOIGOV cxvrd Kai uucpd TTOIWV Kai TOÜS
POUAOIJEVOUS puEiaSai daroTpirrcov, KaSdrap KpaTEpös (FGr Hist 342 F 16) ioropEt. EKKEKIIPUKTAT
84 pdAiaTa OTTO TTIV aAcoaiv TFJS Mr|Aou- o084v ydp KCOAÜEI irpÖTEpov. MEACCVSIOS 84 EV TWI
TTepl puaTripicov TTpo<plpeTai Tfjs xoAi<f)s CTTTIATIS dvriypacpov, ev fji EireKripu^av Kai airröv Kai
TO\>s (w) ¿KSiSovTas TTeAAavEis- EV f)i yiypoarrai Kai TotOTa «¿av 84 Tis diroKTeivrii Aiayö-
pav TÖV Mr|Aiov, AaußdvEiv dpyupiou TdAavTov eav 84 TIS jcövra dyäyr|t, AaußdvEiv 8üo».
2) SCHOL. V (R) ARISTOPH. Ran. 320: dvotKivel ouv TOUS 'A3r|vaiovs 6 KCOHIKÖS, ÖSEV xai
ol 'A3r|vaToi cos SiaxAevdjovros TOUS SEOUS KaTayri9LACTIIEvo 1 dvEKripu^av TCOI HEV dvaipficrovTi
dpyuplou TdAavrrov, TCOI 84 JCOVTA Konlaavn 8üo- ETTEISOV 84 Kai ToOsf dAAous FTEAoTrovvriaious,
WS ioTopEi KpdtTEpos 4v Tfji Zuvaycoyfji TWV vyriqjiandTcov. 3) DIOD. 13,6: see IV 5.
4) JOSEPH, c. Apion. 2,266: Kai Aiayöpai TCOI MtjAICOI TCtAavTov ETTEKripu^av, EI TIS airröv
dv4Aoi, ITTEI TA irap' OÜTOIS (juarripia xAeudjEiv 4A4yETO. 6) AMMON. TT. 8109. A4£.: £TRIKR|-
pü£ai Kai EIRIKRIPUKEUEASAI 8IA94P£I. I7TIKT|p\!/§ai NEV ydp sAeyov TÖ ÜTroax^crSai XP1i^orra Scoasiv
TCOI cruAAaßövri Kai dvdyovn F| dTTOKTElvavTl Tiva TCÖV KORRASIKAASEVTCOV oi 'ASrivaioi ETTEKT|-
pv£av, E! |i4v Tis JCÖVTA dvdyoiTO Aiayöpav TÖV Mr|Aiov Scoaeiv TdAavrov, et 8' dv4Aoi TÖ F|IIICRU.
III. Biographical and anecdotic 1) AL-MTJBASSLR: Leulcippos der Sophist war ein
schüler Zenons des Weisen. Er, Heraklitos der Dunkle, Empedokles, Melissos, Protagoras,
Anaxagoras, Sokrates und Demokrates lebten zur gleichen zeit wie Zenon der Weise. Zu ihrer
zeit lebte Diagoras der Gottlose und hielt sich in der stadt Attilca auf. Als er aber in gottlosigkeit,
unglauben, und gotteslästerung verharrte, da suchte ihn der Sultan und die Weisen und Führer
Attikas, um ihn zu töten, und der Sultdn — es war Charias der Archon (415/4) — setzte einen
preis aus und befahl unter den leuten zu verkünden: 'Wer sich des Diagoras aus Melos bemäch-
tigt, dessen belohnung ist eine geldsumme'. Er erfuhr das, reiste nach dem lande Achaia in eine
stadt mit dem namen Pellene und ließ sich dort nieder. Da brach ein krieg aus zwischen den
einwohnern von Attika und den einwohnern von Lakonien. Er dauerte lange und man ward
durch den krieg von ihm abgelenkt. Danach blieb er 54 jähre. Nach seinem tode fand man bei
ihm ein buch, geschrieben in der spräche der einwohner Phrygiens, voll von Schmähungen über
17 ¿arayayiirri FRANCKEN dyaydmri DOBBEE 21 Tfis om. V | TE^Erfls RV Sud (A) ¿cptTfis Sud (r)
22 (TTVIXTII Sud uvAfii R tröAet irAirrreTat TÖV AUKO^DIRRIV V 24 [aCrröv] om. Sud 26 ¿KKEKTIPUKTAI —
80 Suo om. R Sud 27 oüSiv yap KEAEUEI vel otöiv 8k KCOAUEI BEBGK (ÖAACO;' TOÖTO vyeöSos-) o{1. y. KCOAOUEI
FRITZSCHE 'd. h. ungefähr damals, möglicherweise nämlich noch früher' WILAMOWITZ | MEA&VSIO; : |aiAav
64 V 28 IITEKI'ipu^otw V Diod. (IV 5) Josephus (II 4) Ammonios (II 5) Ps. Lysias (I 5) ixfipu^av Korr' aüroü
a ¿cvEK^pu^av Schol. Ran. (II 2) i^EKi'ipuSav Wil | Kai airriv: Kai om. V 29 (H^FBITZSCHE | TreAavEl; V
80 dpyupiov V 82 TÖV JIIV ivaip^dovra V9 33 jöirra: jcbcoi T& V KopiaavTa 0 [ TOO; (om. VS) öAAous
riEAoTrovuriafous: 'i. e. TOUS TlEAAavEls; äAAous ist aus der korrektur verdorben' Wil, see p.11,8 sqq.
85—36 cf. Libanius Apol. Socrat. 154 (V 103 Fö) 35 Melio -Lat utiAicrfco Jos. (gr.) 38 Kai Avötyovri
F) iaroKTEfvavTi LEOPABDI Kai ¿tvdyoirres A ¿moKTflvavTes Amm 39 Aiayöpav TÖV Mf]Aiov LEOPAHDI 5I"
dyopf^v TÖ (jtfiAiov Amm 42 Demokrates: i. e. Demokritos 48—44 gottlosigkeit — gotteslästerung: 'der
arabische -text verwendet islamische termini: nifäk, lcufr und ta'til, deren eigentliche bedeutung hier
nicht scharf zum ausdruck zu kommen brauchte' ROSENTHAI. 51 Phrygiens: 'die Hss. haben mit
leichter änderung hier wohl Afrika verstehen wollen; ein solches miß Verständnis kann natürlich schon
Mubaä&ir unterlaufen sein' ROSENTHAL; at cf. p. 28,9 sqq.
Diagoras 5
die göttlichen dinge. 2) SCHOL. V ARISTOPH. Ran. 320: Aiayöpas USAWV IROITTRFIS &9EOS,
os Kai Kaiva Saiiaövia etariyeiTO, «CTTTEP ZcoKpdrns. Kai ö neu 'Apiarapxos — i^epyounivou
(= app. crit. ad v. 10). dvaKivel oöv — VF»r|<PIAN<5(TWV (= II 2). fjv 84 OUTOS TTJAEKAUTOU Trais,
Mr|Aios TÖ yivos, TÖU xpövov KOCTÄ ZIHCOV(ST|V Kai TTlvSapov. oi 84 — 'EAEvaiva (= app. crit. ad
v. 10). yiyove 84 — TepSpiws (= I 4). 3) S U DA s. Aiayöpas- TTIAEKAE(8OU f| TY|AEKAIJTOU,
Mr|Aios" 91X600905 Kai diandrcov Ttoir|T%, öv EÜ<pu5 SeoctAhevos ArmÖKpiTOS 6 'AßSripiTris
cbvriCTaTO avrröv SoöXov övra pupfcov Spa/ncov Kai pa3r)Tfiv i-rroii'iffaTO. 6 84 Kai Tfji AupiKrj!
6TRI3STO, TOIS xP°uolS W» (JIETOC TTivSapov Kai BaKxuAi8r|v, MEAaviTnri5r|s 84 TrpEaßvTspos"
•QKNAJE Toivuv OR[ ÖAUNTRIDSI (468/4). Kai ETTEKAI'|STI "ASEOS BIÖTI TOÜTO ESÖ^OJEV, ¿9' oö Tis
¿liÖTEXvos aiTiaSeis int' OÜTOÖ d>s 8f| Traiäva ^EAÖHEVOS, ÖV OÜTÖS ITTETTOITIKEI, 4§COHÖCTOTO PTF]
K£KAo9Evai TOOTOV, yiKpöv 84 üaTEpov ¿TTiSsi^äpeuos cärröv evt|H4PT|CTEV 4VTEÜ9EV OÖV 6 Aiayöpas
Au7iT|3Eis Eypa^E TOÜS KaAounivous 'ATTOTivpyi joirras Aoyous, dvaxcopr)aiv aüroü Kai EKUTGoaiv
EXovTas Tfjs TTEpi TÖ SEIOV 8ö£r|s. KaToiKiI|CTas 84 KöpivSov 6 Atocyöpas aüröSi TÖV ßiov KOCT4-
CTTPE4/EV. 4) SCHOL. (R) V ARISTOPH. Nub. 830 (SUDA s. IcoKpdTTis ZcoKpdrovs): ö
Mr|Aios] (a) -rrap' iaropiav 'ASrivaios ydp ö ZcoKpdrris, dAA' ITTEI Aiayöpas Mr|Aios <2>v SießAX-
AETO COS SEONAXOS, Kai TÖV ZcoKpdni 54 cos SSEOV SiaßdAAsr 8IA TOOTO MrjAtov OÜTÖV EITTEV.
(b) aAAcos- Aiayöpas EyivETO MIIAIOS SiSupaußoTtoiös, os Tot 4v 'EAEUCTIVI pucrrfipia i§opxT)ad-
HEVos Kai E^EITTCOV äaeßsoTOTOs ¿^EKpiSiy du' 4KS(VOU oöv TOUS Mr|Aious iui daEßEiai Kcopicoi8oöai.
(c) Aiayöpas ö MiiAios, ös TÖ t»4v TrpÖTEpov fjv SEoaeßr|SI TRAPAKATASTIKr|v 84 OTTÖ TIVOS dTTOOTE-
pr|3sis Eiri TÖ aSeo; eivai 4§48paiiEV, E9' ¿01 ol 'A3r|vaioi dyavctKTiiaavTES TTJV MfjAov iKÄKCoaav.
(d) aAAcos- Aiocyöpas yiyovk Tis ßAda9T)|ios Eis TÖ SEIOV, MfjAios. Kai TTOTE, 9aaiv, tv -rravSo-
KE(COI ftüpeSsis, Kai nt) EÖpcbv £uAa dAA' ayaA|ia 'HpotKAious «dys» 9t|a( «Tpicn<ai84KaTov fiuiv
4TTIT4AEI &9AOV, Kai Eyr)aov TÖV 9aKÖv». (e) dAAoi 84 9aaiv cbs OUTOS Ö Aiayöpas 8i8daKaAos
fjv ZcoKpdrovs- 5) PHILODEM. FT. EÜasß. col. 18-19 p. 85 Go: äv3p[wTT0si]SEis yap IKETVOI
oü voijijouaiv dAA' dipas Kai Trveunorra Kai aiSipas. COOT' lycoyE KSV TESapprjKÖTCos Eiiraini,
TOUTOUS Aiayöpou naAAov TTATIVHEAETV Ö p4v ydp ?Tra[i]§EV, Enrsp dpa Kai TOOT' airroö fcrnv
dAA' OÜK ETrEviivEKTai, KASÖTTEP 4v TOTS Mavrivicov "ESECTIV 'Apiorö^Evös 9i"|aiv, EV 84 TFJI Ttoir|aEi
Tfji LAÖVRII 6OKOUOT)I KOT' aAii9Eiav ORR' OCOTOÖ YEYPA9SAI TOTS öAots oüS4v da£ß4s irap£V49RIV£V,
dAA' eariv EÖ9T)NOS cbs TROIR|TRIS Eis TÖ Saipöviov, KaSdirep aAAa TE nap-rupsT Kai TÖ yeypap-
nivov sis 'Apidv9r|v TÖV 'ApyEtov «SEÖS 3EÖS irpö Travrös Ipyou ßpoTefou vconäi 9plva CriTEp-
Tdrav», Kai TÖ EIS NiKÖScopov TÖV MavTivia «Korrä 8ai|aova Kai -ri/yav TA irdirra ßpoToiaiv»
EKTeAeTaSai. TA TrapoaT,Ai!|0'ia 8' OCÜTCOI TREPTEFXEI Kai T]Ö Mavriv4cov IVKOO^IOV. OUTOI 54 Ssoüs
EV TOTS auyypdpuaaiv ¿IXOVOIAÄJOVTES dvi"|ipouv I^EPYAARIKCÖS TOIS Trpdyuaaiv Kai METO cnrov;5fis,
DVEAEUSKPCOTEPOI yivöiiEvoi OIAITTTTOU Kai TCOV SAAcov TCOV dirAws TÖ SETOV dvaipoOirrcov.
6) AELIAN V. H. 2,23: NiKÖ8copos 84 ö TTUKTTIS IV TOTS EÜ8OKIH&3T<5(TOIS Mavnvicov YEVÖPEVOS,
52—56 e scholiis Aristophaneis aliqua verbo nuno misere lacerata inculcavit nescio quia in Steph.
Byz. s. v. MflAos (cf. Eustath. Dion. Per. 530) inter 6 troM-rns <Mi^Aios) et ot B' iv ©ETraXion MT|XieTs
55 TÒV—TTÌvBctpov vulgo TCÒV aÙTo/pivcov mucovIBrii Ka\ irivBàpcoi V TÒV ypóvov cnutovfSou Kal iriv8àpou 6
57 Mf)Àios ed. Bas. piAi'icrios o 59 PETÌ: Kcrrà (II 2) KUSTER 59 MEAavitTTTÌSri; A — 5ou T vulgo
61 CipeXótievosf 64 6ó£r|S' iSSeos yàp fjv TÒ trpÓTepov Sud. s. uvpyloKo i 65—67 exstant in R; cf.
Steph. Byz. s. MfiAos 68 Aiayópas HERMANN 'ApKrrocyòpas Schol. Sud 69 àaepé<jTorros Schol. Sud
àaEptlas FEITZSCHB | KtopcoiSoum: quae sequuntur nugae (M^Xios ò Korrcnrpauvcov, 6 KCOHWV, similia)
non exscriptae 70—71: V 5; Schol. Clem. Alex. Protr. p. 304 St Aiayópas 91X60-0905 èyéve-ro, Mi^Xios
TCOI yévEi, 6; ^PX^ÌS EÙOTPFIS &>v Oorspov tls àSEÓTrjTa ÌTPÓRNRI darò TOICCÙTTIS aWas' TRAPAKCN'aSriKTiv
Tricrrcùaas, àpvriaapévou TOO ^APÓVTOS, §9T|aEV pf) £<popav TÒ KpeÌTTOu TÀ àvSpcÓTTiva- tri) yàp àv &vk)(taSm
TCOV OÙTCO KaKcov 71 ÈSpaiaev V Sud. | I9' MI Sud. {9' où V | ÉKÀKCOAAV Sud ÈKÀTEAAV V 72—75 de om.
VR cf. ILI 10 72—73 iv nav5oKe(coi: IYCOV TI OIKOI, ola EIKÒ; CLEMENS (V 10 cf. ILI 9; 10) 73 EÙpeStl;:
l(t)ariaSEÌs 74 TÒV 9OKÓV (cf. ILI 10):Tàs yoyyuXa; Athenagoras (III 9) 76 où ELMSLEY [U]FJ?
ed.princ. 77 TOUT' OÙTOÙ HAYTER TOY(lacuna) n TOYZ... I o 82 Tràvra TEÀelTai Sextus 83
OOTOI : scil. qui àÀÀriyopiKcos deos interpretantur
6 Felix Jacoby
àAÀ' òyè Tris f)AiKÌas Kaì ustò ttjv óSàtìctiv vouoSé-rns corrois, ÉyévETO, naKpcoi toOto apeivov
TtoÀiTEUCTàpevos Tfji irccTpiSi twv Kripuynàrcov tmv év toìs cnraSfois. <paaì 6è ocutcoi Aiayópav
tòv Mf|Àiov auvSeTvai toùs vópous Épaorfiv yEvónEvov. eTxóv ti Kaì -rrEpaiTépco Cnrèp NiKoScópou
«o eìttcìv cbs 8' àv i-ir) 5oko(tiv kocì tòv ÌTraivov tòv toO Aiayópou Trpoo-rrapaÀaiJipàveiu, és toctoO-
tov SiTivwaSco tò toO Aóyou. Seoìs yàp èxSpòs 6 Aiocyópas Kaì ou noi i]8iov étti ttXeìotov
|j£|jvfÌaSai aùrow. 7) ATHENAIOS 13,92 p. 611 AB: eìkótcos ouv -iroXXaì tcov ttóàscov
Kaì liótXiara f| AocKE8ai|jiovicov, ¿05 XanaiXécov (F 15 Koepke) 9T|ctìv èv tcoi TTEpì Zinco viSov,
où irpoaÌEVTai oute pr|TopiKf|v (oute cpiÀoao9Ìav) 8ià Tàs év toìs Aóyois ù|acov cpiAoTipia^ Kaì
95 2pi8as Kaì toùs àKaipovs èXéyxovs, 61' oOs 2coKpàrr|s nèv àrréSavev . . ., daréSavEv 6è 6ià touto
xaì GsóSwpos ó aSeos, Kaì Aiayópas (é^sKripùxSrì, Kaì TTpcoTayópas) È^yaSEuSr], ote Kaì
ttXécov vauayicoi ÈxpiiaaTO. 8) TATIAN. TTpòj 'EAX. 27: Aiayópas 'ASrivalos fjv, àXXà
toOtov È^opxriaàiiEvov tò Trap' 'A-9r|vaiois puori'ipia tetiucùp^kote, Kaì toìs Opuyiois aurou
Xóyois évTuyxàvovTES f||i5s pEuiar|KaTE. 9) ATHENAG. TTpeap. ir. Xpiar. 4: Aiayópai nèv
100 yàp eIkótcos àSEÓTT|Ta IttekcìAouv 'ASr)vaioi, p.r| iìóvov tòv 'Opq>iKÒv eìs néaov KaraTiSévTi
Xóyov Kaì tò év "EXeuctìvi Kaì Tà tcov Kapipcov 8t)heùovti nuarripia Kaì tò toO 'HpocKXéous iva
tòs yoyyùXas ?yoi KOTocKÓTrrovTi £óavov, àirriKpùs Sè àrroipaivopévcoi nrjSè óXcos Elvai Seóv.
10) SCHOL. (Vatic. gr. 1298) ARISTEIDIS: Aiayópas 0ÙT05 91XÓCT090S fjv. kXtiSeìs 6é ttote
eìs Eicrriaaiv ù(p' ÉTépou 9iXoaÓ90u, ikf0VT0S ékeìvou <potKfjv Kaì kotò xp£iav è'^co ekeìvou x^pii"
105 aavTos ocùtós te TTEpiaTpa9£Ìs i)6e kìckeìoe Kaì tò toO 'HpaKÀéous ccyaXna Trpoxeipcos e^pwv
Kaì ovvTpi^as évir|cn tcoi irupì étteittcov ìtt' oùtó- «ScóSsKa toìoiv aSXois TpioKai8ÉKaTov tóvS'
¿TéXEaEV 'HpaKXfjs 8ios». 11) DIOG. LAERT. 6,59: Socu^ovtós tivos tò év ZaiioSpóncrii
àvaSf||iorra, l<pr| (scil. Diogenes of Sinope) «ttoAXcoi 8' àv ttXeìco eì Kaì oi |jtf) acoSévTEs òvetì-
Seaav». o! Se toOto Aiayópou 9aaì toO Mr|Xiou. 12) CICERO De nat. deor. 3,89: at
no Diagoras curri Samothracam venisset, aOsoc Me qui dicitur, atque ei quidam amicus 'tu qui
deos putas humana neglegere, nonne animadvertis ex tot tabulis pictis, quam multi votis vira
tempestatis effugerint . . .' inquit 'illi enim nusquam picti sunt, qui naufragio fecerunt in ma-
rique perierunt'. idemque cum ei naviganti vectores adversa tempestate timidi .... dicerent non
iniuria sibi illud accidere, qui illum in eandem navem recepissent, ostendit eis in eodem cursu
115 multas alias laborantis quaesivitque num etiam in iis navibus Diagoram vehi crederent.
IV. Chronological 1) EUSEB. Hieron. Chron. 01.74,3 (482/1) : oi irepì Aiayópav 9UCTIK0Ì
9iXóa090i fjKnajov. 2) SCHOL. ARISTOPH. Fan. 320 (see III 2) : tòv xpóvov Karà
IiUcovi8r|v Kaì TTIvSapov. 3) EUSEB. Hieron. Chron. 01.78,1 (468/7): Bacchylides et Dio-
dorus atheus plurimo sermone celebrantur. 4) SUDA s. Aiayópas (see III 3) : toìs XP^"
120 vots wv hetò TTÌvSàpov Kaì BokxuXÌStiv, MeÀaviTTTTÌSTis 6è TrpEo-pÙTepos' f|KiJiajE toìvuv ori ÒÀU|>
TTiàSi (468/4). 5) DIODOR. 13,6 (a. 415/4, archon Charias) : Aiocyópas ó kXti^eìs óSeos
SiapoXfjs tuxcùv ètt' àaEpEÌai Kaì 9opr|9EÌs tòv 8fjnov ?9uysv èx Tfjs 'Attiktìs, oi 8' 'A9r|vaioi
tcoi àvEXóvTi Aiayópav ópyupiou TÓtXavTov ¿rrsKripu^av. 6) MUBASSlR (see III 1): der
Sultan — es war Charias der archon (415/4) — setzte einen preis aus er (Diagoras) reiste
126 nach ... Pellene ... da brach ein Jcrieg aus er dauerte lange .... danach blieb er 51 jahre.
7) SCHOL. ARISTOPH. Av. 1073 (see II1) : (a) uetò tt)v SXcoaiv Mf|Àou (416/5) wikei iv 'A9f|-
vais ... (b) ¿KKEKT] puKTai S è nàXiora ùttò -r^v óXcoaiv Tfjs Mf|Xou- oùSÈv yàp k co Àusi npÓTEpov.
V. Doxographical 1) PHILODEM. TT. EÙAEP. 18-19: see III 5. 2) PHILODEM.
P.Herc. 1077 col. 82,5 (Philippson Hermes 56 p. 376): kó[v tcoi] ScoSEKÓTwfi (scil. Fispì
89 (8é) ti Hkechkr 94 (oute TPIXOCTO^LAV) Mtjsurtjs 96 ( ) suppl. Wilamowitz 97 'ASrivatos:
lapsus calami? 103—107 ed. B. Keil Hermes 55 p. 65. Hoc scholium scriptum non a manu prima
s. XI, sed additum a viro docto Byzantino, Tzetzae fortasse aequali. Cf. Ili 4d; 9 ; V 9. 104 é<7TÌaoiv?
116 Ol. 74,3 ABArm 74,4 OL 75,1 M 118 Ol. 78,1 L 78,3 ABArm 78,2 r 120 urrà: kcttò Kuster |
MEÀaviTnrlSTis A — Sou T vulgo 127 cf. app. v. 27
Diagoras 7
(pÙCTECOs) TTpo]5ÌKWi Kal Aiafyópai] Kal KpiTÌai KCX[XXOIS] ylv<p[£Tai {sdì. Epikuros F 87 Us.)], 130
<pàs iTa[pa]KÓ7TTSiv Kaì [naivEa]3ai, xai paKXEÙoucnv aùroùs [eijKafjei] • Soùs [6è (j]r| Trp6(yna[S'
FL]ntv trapéxeiv où8' èvo/Àgìv Ka[ÙTÒs] TRAPAYPAN[N]ATÌ3[EI] TÒ T[W]V SSCOV [TRPÓCYNO]Ta.
3) B U S E B. PE 14,16,1: ÉVIOI TMV 91X0CTÓ9WV, KaSdargp Aiayópas ó Mr)Àios Kal GeóScopos
ó Kupr|vatos Kaì Eùr|p.Epos ó TEyEcrrris (FGrHist 63 T 4) KaSóÀou 9«al nf| elvai Seoùs ... Kal
EùpiTTÌSris ò TpoycoiSoTtoiàs (immo Kritias Vorsokr. 88 [81] B 25) àTTOKaXùyaaSai (jtèv OÙK 135
f]36Àr|a£ SeSoiKcbs TÒV "Apetov iràyov, èvé9Tiv£ 6è TOVTOV TÒV Tpóirov ... 4) S E X T US EM-
P I R I C US Pyrrh. Eypoth. 3,218: Kal Tà iTepl EÙaepefas 6è Kal SECÓV TreiTXri parrai TroÀÀfis 8ia-
cpovias. 3eoùs yàp oi nèv TTOÀÀOÌ paaiv si vai, Ttvès 8è OÙK elvai, cbcrrrEp oi TTEpl Aiayópav TÒV
Mf|Xiov Kal ©EÓScopov Kal KpiTÌav TÒV 'ASr)vaìov. 5) Adv. math. 9, 50: TCOV oùv TTEpl
ÙTràp^ecos SeoO aKEyanévcov oi hèv elvai <paai SEÓV, ot 6è uf] Elvai, oi 8è ut) nSXXov elvai f| nf| no
Elvai. Kal Elvai nèv oi TTXEÌOUS TMV SoynariKwv Kal f| KOIVÌI TOO (3(ou TrpóÀriyis, (51) IJIT) EÌvai
8è oi èTnKÀr|SévTes àSsoi, KaSòarEp Eùrmepo? Kal Aiayópas ó M^Àto; Kal T7pó8iKOS ó Keìos
Kal QsóScopos Kal àXXoi TrapiTrÀTìSsIs • c£>v Eùi^nepos (lèv éXeye TOÙS vonijonévous Seoùs SUVCCTOÙS
Tivas yeyovévai àvSpcóirous .. . (52) rTpóSwos 8è TÒ C09EÀ0UU TÒV piov ÙTreiXf^Sai SEÓV . . .
(53) Aiayópas 6È ó Mr]Àios 8i3vpa|jpOTTOiós, cos 9aai TÒ -rrpwTov ysvóiaevos cbs EÌ TIS Kal àÀÀos 145
6£iai5ai|jcov, os yE Kal Tris ttoii'ICTEGOS ÉOUTOO Korrfip^crro TÒV Tpóirov TOÙTOV «Korrà 5a((joua
Kal tuxtìu TTÓcvTa TEÀerrai» • àSiKr)Sels 8è ÙTTÓ TIVOS èiri0pKiI|CTavT0s Kal |xr)8èv IvEKa TOÙTOU
TraSóvTos meStipuóctoto EÌS TÒ Àéysiv PF) elvai Seóv. (54) Kal KpiTÌas SOKEÌ ìk TOO Tàyiicrros
TCÓV àSécov ùrràpXEiv 9Ópisvos OTI oi TraÀaiol vopioSéTai ITTÌCTKOTTÓV Tiva TCOV àvSpcoTrivcov
KaropScopÓTCov Kal ccnapTT)uàTcov ¡hrXaaav TÒV SEÒV ÙTrèp TOO |xr)8éva XàSpai TÒV TrXr|CTÌov 150
àSiKEiv, EÙÀapouiisuou Tf)vÙTTÒ TCOV SECOV Tuioopiav (55) avn9épsTai8è TOÙTOIS TOIS <3cv8pàai
Kal ©EÓScopos ó SSEOS Kal Korrà Tivas TTpcoTOtyópas ò 'ApSiphris (58) Kal 'EirÌKOupos 8è
KOCT' ÈVÌOUS cbs U^v irpòs TOÙS TTOÀÀOÙS ccTroÀEÌTTEi SEÓV, cbs 5è irpòs TT)V 9ÙC71V TCÓV irpay^órrcov
où8a|jicós. 6) C I C E RO De Nat. Deor. 1,1—2: perdifjicilis ... et perobscura quaestio est
de natura deorum, de qua tam variae . . . tamque discrepant.es sententiae . . . plerique, quod 155
maxime verisimile est et quo omnes duce natura venimus, deos esse dixerunt, dubitare se Pro-
tagoras, nullos esse omnino Diagoras Melius et Theodorus Cyrenaicus putaverunt. IBD. 1,63:
Diagoras, SSEOS qui dictus est, posteaque Theodorus nonne aperte deorum naturarti sustulerunt ?
IBD. 1,117; M I N U C I US Octav. 8,2 (VII). 7) D I O G E N ES O E N O A N D. F 12 col.
I 5—II 10 WILLIAM : [SfjÀov], cbs oùxì r|[tiEìs àvaipo]0|iEv TOÙS [SEOÙS àÀÀ' oi ÉT]EPOI. [Aiayópas iso
uè]v oùv ó [MrjXios èv] Ttji trapaf ] 8ó£r]s [ ] àvTi[Kpùs EITTE |if) elv]ai
3e[oùs ] TOÌS [ ] naxeCTaiaévous. TTpcoTayópas 8è ó 'A|38r|pÌTris Tfji
uèv SUUÀNET TTJV AÙRFIV FIVEYKE Aiayópai Só^av, Taìs XéfEaiv 8è éTépais ÌXP^O-OTO, cbs TÒ Xiav
tTanòv aÙTfis ÌK9EU^ó(jevos• §9T|CTE yàp nf) si8évai, ei SEO( siaiv. 8) A E L I AN N. A. 6,40:
"ITTTTCOV 8è Kal Aiayópas Kal 'HpóorpaTos Kal ò XOITTÒS TCOV SEOÌS é/Spcòv KaTaXoyos ireos òv ICS
Ì9EÌaavro TCÓV pOTpùcov f| àva3r|nó(TC0v aXXcov (scil. TCOV èv "HpaKXéous vt'iacoi év TCOI FÌÓVTCOI),
oi Kal TÒ TCOV SECOV Ò vóli erra Kal Epya ÀPCOAYÉTTCOS ovXav upor)ipr|névoi. 9) P L U T A R C H.
FÌEpl SEiaiSai^. 12/3 p. 171 : Kal |if|v ó aSeos SeiaiSainovias oùSaufj auvaiTios, f| 5è SeiaiSai-
lAovia TT]I ÓC3EÓTT|TI Kal yEvéa3ai trapéaxEv àpxiìv Kal yevoiiévrii SiScoaiv àiroXoyiav, OÙK àXr)3ri
pèv où8è KCXXt]v, Trpo9àaecos 5É TIVOS OÙK ànoipov oùaav TauTa 8(8coaiv èviois Àéyeiv cbs m
ufi Elvai 3EOÙS apeivov f) EÌvai, ToiaCrra nèv Sexoijévous TOIOÙTOIS 8è xaipovTas, OUTCO 8è ùppiaTàs,
OOTCO 8è |iiKpoXóyous Kal niKpoXùirous. (13) àXX' OÙK Spsivov fjv TaXórrais . . . Kal ZkùSois
133 Mi^Xios GC MI^CTIOS E Theodoret [Oraec. cur. aff. 2,112; 3,4] (a) b 140 cf. V 9 Un. 171
145 Kal (vel fjv) e! TIS BEKKER 147 ni/av TÀ Tràvra ßpoTotaiv ÌKTIÀET<jSai Philodem (III 5 Un. 82/3)
160-161 suppl. HEBEEDEY-KALINJSA (BCH 21) 161 [tv]-rfji irapà [EuSt'iucoi Tris] 5ó^s [à-rroSEÌ^i]
'exempli causa' suppl. DIELS ; vix recte àvTi[Kpùs eltre] suppl. WILLIAM àvrijXéyei NF) tlv]ai 3e[oùs,
atpóSpa 8fi] TOÌS [SAAa VOIJIIJOUCTI] UCCXECTÓMÌVOS HEBEBDEY-KALINKA 172 IXÀ' O\JK äntivov O OÙK äueivov oöv
A 5p' OÙK WlL AMO WITZ [AÀÀ'] OÙK Ä(J. POHLENZ
8 Felix Jacobt
tö -rrapdrrav pi'it' Ivvoiav exeiv 3ewv . .. . f| Seoüs slvai vopiijeiv xalpovTas dvSpcimcov ct9otto-
Ijevcov aip,aTi ... . t( 8i; Kapxt|8oviois oük SAuctitIAei KpiTfav AaßoC/aiv F| Aiayöpav vonoSiTT]v
du' ÄPXFIS uriTs Tiva Saijiövcov nr|TE Secov vopfjEiv F| ToiaÖTa Sueiv ola tcöi Kpövcoi [eSuov];
10) CLEMENS ALEX. Protr. 2,24,2 (ARNOB. adv. nat. 4,29): cbv 6i| x^piv (oü yäp ouSa-
Hä>S ¿nroKpurrrEou) SauiadjEiv iireiai iaoi ötcoi Tpöucot Eurmepov töv "AKpayavTivov Kai NiKdvopcc
töv KuTrpiov kocI f Aiayöpav Kai "lirmova töv M^Aiovf töv te Kuprivatov £irl toutois Ikeivov —
[ö] 0eö6copos övopa aürcSi — Kai Tivas äAAovs auxvous crco<pp6vcos ßeßicoKÖTas Kai KaSecopa-
KÖTaS O^UTEpOV TTCO TCOV AonT&V dvSpCOTTCOV TTJV dl^l TOU? 3EOTOUTOUS TrAdvTl V, dsious ¿TTlKeKAri-
Kaaiv (3) uv ö n£v Tis (Xenophanes Vorsokr. 21 [11] A 13) napsyyuäi tois Alyurrriois
«ei SeoOs vo|iijETE, nf] Spr| veite ccutoüs ht|8e kötttectSe ' El 8£ ttevSeite outoüs, ht|k£ti toütou;
t\yeZaSe Elvai Seovs», (4) 6 Se 'HpcxKÄla Ik £0Aou Aaßoov KOTeaKEuaanivov (etuxe 8£ iycov ti
oikoi, ola EIK05) «oTa Sri, w 'HpoxAsis» eIttev «vöv ctoi f|8r| Kaipös ,warrsp EupuaSsi, crräp 8f]
Kai fiuiv Crrroupyfjaai töv TpiaxaiSeKcrrov toOtov &9Aov, Kai Aiayöpai Toüvyov TrapotaxEud-
aai», k&t' ccütöv Eis tö irOp £ve3i-|kev cos §vAov. 11) MINUCIUS FELIX Octav. 8,2: sit
licet ille Theodorus Gyrenaeus vel qui prior Diagoras Melius, cui o9eov cognomen adposuit
antiquitas, qui uterque nullos deos adseverando timorem omnem, quo humanitas regitur, vene-
rationemque penitus sustulerant: numquam tarnen in hac impietatis disciplina simulatae philo-
sophiae nomine atque auctoritate pollebunt. (3) cum Abderiten Protagoram Athenienses, virurn
consulte potius quam profane de divinitate disputantem, et expulerint suis finibus et in contione
scripta eius deusserint.
B. Some Remarks on the Evidence
I 1. The passage is doxographically of little, chronographically of great value as the
first certain proof of Diagoras' being known to the Athenian theatre goer. About the possibly
prior mention by Hermippos see below p. 9, 40, sqq. It is fairly certain that Diagoras did
not live in Athens when the Cloxtds was performed, but in the Peloponnese, probably at
Mantinea (see below p. 18, 42/5).
I 2. The point in question is not whether Diagoras was dead or alive when the Birds
was acted6) — it is amazing how anybody can presume to infer from the words of Aristo-
phanes that 'Diagoras had been dead a long time' —, but whether or no he had been recently
outlawed. The series of the three decrees, the tyrant decree following the Diagoras decree,
seems to tell strongly in favour of a contemporary event; it is an extremely witty point
that the Birds then seize the opportunity to offer an even greater reward for the killing
or apprehending of a well known Athenian bird-catcher and bird-seller, the •mvaKOTTcoAris
<t>iAoKpdrr|s7). The inference seems further corroborated by the fact of intense religious
excitement at Athens in 415 B. C., caused by the outrages against the Hermai and the
profanation of the Mysteries by Alkibiades and his friends8), when the Athenians toC/s Korrai-
TiaSivTas Kpiaeis troii'iCTavTES tous hev dir&TEivav ocjoi ^vveAi^Stictov, tcov 81 SiacpuyovTtov
Sdvorrov KorrayvdvTES ettccveIttov dpyupiov tcoi drroKTEivavTi9). The stumbling block for some
interpreters is that the second decree is directed against the 'dead tyrants'. No doubt, this
difficulty is a seeming one; apparently the poet is joking in coupling Diagoras with the 'dead'
tyrants, and it is obvious what the joke is: to offer a reward for killing a dead tyrant is as
175 [ola] et [I3uov] del. Wilamowitz 'propter hiatum' 177—178 Ntxauopa: vel Nicagora Cyprio vel
Pellaeo Leonte (FGr Hist 659 T 2) Arnob vel Hippone ac Diagora Meliis Amob A. Kal "I. Ttb Mexico
Muknzki. "I. Kal A. t6v MI^Xiov Diels 179 [6] Diudobf 185 toO^ov Cobet toutov Clem 190 Pro-
tagoram v pitagoram Min | virum Maehly viri Min
8 Felix Jacobt
tö -rrapdrrav pi'it' Ivvoiav exeiv 3ewv . .. . f| Seoüs slvai vopiijeiv xalpovTas dvSpcimcov ct9otto-
Ijevcov aip,aTi ... . t( 8i; Kapxt|8oviois oük SAuctitIAei KpiTfav AaßoC/aiv F| Aiayöpav vonoSiTT]v
du' ÄPXFIS uriTs Tiva Saijiövcov nr|TE Secov vopfjEiv F| ToiaÖTa Sueiv ola tcöi Kpövcoi [eSuov];
10) CLEMENS ALEX. Protr. 2,24,2 (ARNOB. adv. nat. 4,29): cbv 6i| x^piv (oü yäp ouSa-
Hä>S ¿nroKpurrrEou) SauiadjEiv iireiai iaoi ötcoi Tpöucot Eurmepov töv "AKpayavTivov Kai NiKdvopcc
töv KuTrpiov kocI f Aiayöpav Kai "lirmova töv M^Aiovf töv te Kuprivatov £irl toutois Ikeivov —
[ö] 0eö6copos övopa aürcSi — Kai Tivas äAAovs auxvous crco<pp6vcos ßeßicoKÖTas Kai KaSecopa-
KÖTaS O^UTEpOV TTCO TCOV AonT&V dvSpCOTTCOV TTJV dl^l TOU? 3EOTOUTOUS TrAdvTl V, dsious ¿TTlKeKAri-
Kaaiv (3) uv ö n£v Tis (Xenophanes Vorsokr. 21 [11] A 13) napsyyuäi tois Alyurrriois
«ei SeoOs vo|iijETE, nf] Spr| veite ccutoüs ht|8e kötttectSe ' El 8£ ttevSeite outoüs, ht|k£ti toütou;
t\yeZaSe Elvai Seovs», (4) 6 Se 'HpcxKÄla Ik £0Aou Aaßoov KOTeaKEuaanivov (etuxe 8£ iycov ti
oikoi, ola EIK05) «oTa Sri, w 'HpoxAsis» eIttev «vöv ctoi f|8r| Kaipös ,warrsp EupuaSsi, crräp 8f]
Kai fiuiv Crrroupyfjaai töv TpiaxaiSeKcrrov toOtov &9Aov, Kai Aiayöpai Toüvyov TrapotaxEud-
aai», k&t' ccütöv Eis tö irOp £ve3i-|kev cos §vAov. 11) MINUCIUS FELIX Octav. 8,2: sit
licet ille Theodorus Gyrenaeus vel qui prior Diagoras Melius, cui o9eov cognomen adposuit
antiquitas, qui uterque nullos deos adseverando timorem omnem, quo humanitas regitur, vene-
rationemque penitus sustulerant: numquam tarnen in hac impietatis disciplina simulatae philo-
sophiae nomine atque auctoritate pollebunt. (3) cum Abderiten Protagoram Athenienses, virurn
consulte potius quam profane de divinitate disputantem, et expulerint suis finibus et in contione
scripta eius deusserint.
B. Some Remarks on the Evidence
I 1. The passage is doxographically of little, chronographically of great value as the
first certain proof of Diagoras' being known to the Athenian theatre goer. About the possibly
prior mention by Hermippos see below p. 9, 40, sqq. It is fairly certain that Diagoras did
not live in Athens when the Cloxtds was performed, but in the Peloponnese, probably at
Mantinea (see below p. 18, 42/5).
I 2. The point in question is not whether Diagoras was dead or alive when the Birds
was acted6) — it is amazing how anybody can presume to infer from the words of Aristo-
phanes that 'Diagoras had been dead a long time' —, but whether or no he had been recently
outlawed. The series of the three decrees, the tyrant decree following the Diagoras decree,
seems to tell strongly in favour of a contemporary event; it is an extremely witty point
that the Birds then seize the opportunity to offer an even greater reward for the killing
or apprehending of a well known Athenian bird-catcher and bird-seller, the •mvaKOTTcoAris
<t>iAoKpdrr|s7). The inference seems further corroborated by the fact of intense religious
excitement at Athens in 415 B. C., caused by the outrages against the Hermai and the
profanation of the Mysteries by Alkibiades and his friends8), when the Athenians toC/s Korrai-
TiaSivTas Kpiaeis troii'iCTavTES tous hev dir&TEivav ocjoi ^vveAi^Stictov, tcov 81 SiacpuyovTtov
Sdvorrov KorrayvdvTES ettccveIttov dpyupiov tcoi drroKTEivavTi9). The stumbling block for some
interpreters is that the second decree is directed against the 'dead tyrants'. No doubt, this
difficulty is a seeming one; apparently the poet is joking in coupling Diagoras with the 'dead'
tyrants, and it is obvious what the joke is: to offer a reward for killing a dead tyrant is as
175 [ola] et [I3uov] del. Wilamowitz 'propter hiatum' 177—178 Ntxauopa: vel Nicagora Cyprio vel
Pellaeo Leonte (FGr Hist 659 T 2) Arnob vel Hippone ac Diagora Meliis Amob A. Kal "I. Ttb Mexico
Muknzki. "I. Kal A. t6v MI^Xiov Diels 179 [6] Diudobf 185 toO^ov Cobet toutov Clem 190 Pro-
tagoram v pitagoram Min | virum Maehly viri Min
Diagoras 9
aimless as to make a decree against Diagoras ; it is an idle threat which the Athenians cannot
carry into effect, as the man is in safety beyond the range of their guns. But if that is the
case, it surely makes the date of the decree doubtful too, particularly if there are other
reasons against dating it in the year 415. We shall see that there are reasons (and strong
ones) which make for a much earlier date for the condemnation of Diagoras ; but with these
we can only deal in connexion with what we know about his life from all available sources.
Meanwhile we have to ask if possibly the passage in the Birds admits of another explanation.
Now, the main feature of Thukydides' report is surely his assertion that the religious outrages
in 415 were regarded by the people as signs of an intended oligarchical reaction or even of a
tyranny; and I for one am loath to see in this assertion a mere pretext to justify the insertion
of the long digression about the Peisistratids. Aristophanes and Thukydides support each
other: there was, in fact, fear of a tyranny or something like it in 415 B. C. But as the comic
poet ridicules this fear also in 422 ( Vesp. 503) and in 411 (Lysistr. 619), and as he scoffs at
Diagoras in 423 (Nub. 826/30) and, perhaps, again in 405 (Ran. 318/20), the starting point
of the joke in the Birds may well have been not a recent event in the life of the (let us call
him that for the time being) philosopher — whom Aristophanes hated and attacked repeatedly
like Sokrates, Euripides and other representatives of the 'modern' spirit — but the general
and universal feeling at Athens in the fatal year 415.
I 3. This passage is a rather dubious testimony which in the commentaries and elsewhere
is not treated fully. It is hard to believe in Aristarchos' interpretation of the letter-group
AIA IX PAZ as a proper name. The brachylogy, ellipsis, aposiopesis, or whatever one likes to
call it seems unique, even if we take wcnrep from the Suda, which would make it a little easier
to understand the words as spoken ironically. The joke, too, is rather poor, if one does not
believe in the scholion (absent from RV) about the SiSupà^pcov -rroir|TT)s auvex&S "ICCKXE
"ICCKX6 ói8cov; the badly attested explanation certainly looks like an autoschediasm. We
do not know if Aristophanes himself knew the hymns of Diagoras10), but he could hardly
expect his public to be acquainted with them. True, Aves 544/5 crù Sé not Kcrrà 8a(p,ova Kai
(TI va) OVVTUXÌTIV ÀYASFIV F|KEIS acorrip reminds us of a phrase in the poem of Diagoras
for Nikodoros11) ; but the phrase is 'gewiss altgeheiligte formel'12), and the poem was probably
not known outside Mantinea, where Aristoxenos may have found it. The obvious supplement
of the Aristophanean ellipsis is a form of CUSEIV : either CUSEI — the interpreters forget that
this supplement is possible, if perhaps not probable, and it would fit a Aiocyópccs — or
¿nSouaiv. The plural number demands the reading of AlArOPAI as Si' óyopfij, proposed
by the grammarian Apollodoros. It fits the context quite well, and is now the favourite of
editors13), as it would obviously refer to the great Iakchos procession on Boedromion 19th.14)
In no case does the passage yield a terminus post for the death of Diagoras: Aristophanes
could hardly know in wartime whether he were dead or alive, and (if he thought of his ancient
foe at all) would not have troubled about it. The scholiast by his note II 2 lin. 31 sqq. shows
only his ignorance of chronology.
I 4. The Moipcu was acted in 430 (429?) B. C., if the passage quoted by Plutarch.
Perikl. 33, 8 (F 46 KOCK) belongs to this play15). Hermippos compares to one Diagoras a fast
growing person. The inference from Plutarch that he means Kleon, 'qui turn maxime Periclis
obtrectatione in dies crescebat'18), appears very doubtful to me. This Diagoras was certainly
as real a person as OiÀoKpórrris ó IrpouSiou in Aristophanes' Birds 1077 or TTpo^eviSris ó
KOIÌTTCCCTEOS ìbd. 1126, well known to the theatre goer (otherwise nobody would have understood
the joke), but not necessarily an Athenian17). The gentile — for such it is, like iTpoOSios and
Ko|iTracreus18), not a patronymic 'son of Terthreus' — seems to exclude the famous athlete,
son of the Rhodian Damagetos, whose height is given by Schol. Pind. 01. 7 inscr. as 6 TTTIXWV
KCD E SCCKTUACOV, but of whom we do not know if he ever visited Athens, but it fits rather
10 FELIX JACOBY
well the author of a book like that of the Melian Diagoras, and its doctrine which besides
those of other and perhaps more famous sophists and philosophers (among them IcoKpArris
6 MR|Aios) is largely drawn upon in the Clouds19). TepSpeia (TEpSpeupo, TEpSpeOeiv)20) is
explained by the ancient lexicographers as Aoyoijaxia4 ¿ttötti• 9Auapia' <pAr)va<pfa (He-
sych); as AeirroAoyia-21) <pAuap(a- d-rrdmy TrspiEpyia22); as yor|Ts(a' f TrepnrdSEia23); axpr|-
CTTCC arrouScrEiv, DVRL TOÜ KEvocrrrouSia24). The use of the word confirms these explications25).
Mostly applied to rhetoricians, philosophers and certain aspects of religion it is always
used in a more or less derogatory sense26): Isokrates in the preface of his Helena which
has a striking likeness to the attacks made by Aristophanes in the Clouds, taxes the 'sophists'
(Protagoras, Gorgias, Zenon, Melissos among them) with their predilection for a OTTOSECTIS
STOTTOS Kai irapaSo^os, for ipiSss oüSev ci^eAoüaai, irepiepyia EV TOIJ Aoyoi;, and with their
pride ¿TRI Tfji KaivÖTT)TI TCOV EIPRMEVWV , and comprehending all these objections admonishes
them d<PE|IIVOUS TOUTTIS TFJS TspSpeias TT|V aAr|3Eiav SIWKSIV. Consequently TepSpeOs should
mean not only a 'quibbler', but the native of a country where this sort of reasoning and
speaking is in vogue, a gas-bag, wind-bag, swindler or even impostor, which from the Aristo-
phanic standpoint is a very suitable designation for a philosopher who advocated the UTTO-
SECTIS CCTOTTOS Kai nap&8o£os (and who probably was proud of its KaivÖTTjs) that there are no
gods; or, as Aristophanes has it, mixing up different opinions and attributing them to ZooKpd-
TTIS 6 Mr|Aios, that AUTAI yap TOI no vat etai 3sai, xaAAa 8E TTCCVT' ECTTI tpAuapos; that ou5'
?ORI ZEUS, but only Dinos, who has occupied his heavenly throne.
I hazard the suggestion27) that the Aiayopaj 6 TspSpsus of Hermippos is the Melian
atheist for what it is worth. For I do not believe that we are bound by the distinction made
in the scholia: yeyove 8E KOI ETEpoj KTA. Their source, books about the KCOIJCOISOOHEVOI28),
obviously did not know anything about this Diagoras besides what the comparison implied —
his great size of body. On the other hand, common honesty (an inconvenient habit, but I
can't break myself of it) compels me to admit that the so-called Zuvaycoyfi, the common
source of Photios and the Suda, derives TspSpeia from TipSpov, a nautical term, explained
as axoivfov TOIS uAoiois AETTTOV or oi ECTXCCTOI KÄAOI ('the end of the sail-yard'), TOÜ ioroö
TÖV TÖVOV29), and by TIVES30) generally as TÖ EOXOTOV Kai ü^rjAdv. This etymology is certainly
false, and to use it for explaining 6 TEp3p£ws as 'the son of the mast' seems most improbable
to me, as in the parallel case these comic designations are not patronymic. In fact, as yet
nobody301) has considered the possibility of connecting TepSpsOs with TEpSpov; but once
pointed out it might appeal to lovers of the improbable, and then the Diagoras of Her-
mippos may have been an Athenian otherwise unknown to us. I do not think it an even
plausible alternative, but prefer to believe that Hermippos clinches the case as developped
below for an earlier condemnation of Diagoras. If that is so, we learn from him not only
something about his physique which is only amusing, but the very important fact that he
lived for some time at Athens and was widely known there.31)
I 5. The date of the speech is 399 B. C.: BLASS Att. Beredsamk. 2I p. 291 n. 6. For the
authorship Meletos is a hot favorite (see PA 9825; LÄMMLI, Das attische Prozeßverfahren,
Basel 1938, p. 48sq.). The speech is certainly not a late forgery as CHKIST-SCHMID (Griech.
Lit. 61, 1912, p. 554 n. 8 'nicht lange vor Harpokration geschrieben') still believed.
II 1. The value of the documentary evidence for a reconstruction of Diagoras' life
will be discussed later on32); here we will be content with some preliminary remarks.
The shorter version (a) of the scholia is the extract of an extract, and therefore one has
to be extremely cautious when it seems at variance with, or is not corroborated by, b, as is
perhaps the case with its first sentence ouros — kv 'A3r)vais33). b too is not complete,
as it has not preserved the whole psephisma, but only the clause immediately interesting the
interpreter which refers to the price set on Diagoras' head. But the extract is systematic and
