Comments on: Ancient History Competition 35

By: Manolis

Manolis — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:22:21 +0000

It is Nicias. The identification of the tyrant with the philologist is usually accepted.

By: Terrence Lockyer

Terrence Lockyer — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:21:03 +0000

Thanks for the reference.

By: Yannis Stoyas

Yannis Stoyas — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:30:17 +0000

K. Buraselis, in his book Kos between Hellenism and Rome, Philadelphia 2000, pp. 25-65 (passim), esp. p. 30, accepts the identification of the grammarian Curtius Nicias with the tyrant, commenting also on the numismatic evidence (op. cit., pp. 31-37), as well as on the literary and other testimonia (p. 37ff.).

By: Terrence Lockyer

Terrence Lockyer — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:03:55 +0000

With regard to Curtius Nicias, Suetonius (De grammaticis et rhetoribus 14.3) refers to his work “de Lucilio”, not Lucretius. His identification with the tyrant of Kos seems to be regarded as possible but not certain.

By: Constantina Katsari

Constantina Katsari — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:43:37 +0000

Peter K,
of course, you are correct. I know that Manolis had someone else in mind (what is it with Roman politicians and Greek philologists-tyrants?) but Nikias of Kos certainly fits the profile. As far as I know, he is mentioned in Suetonius as a man of learning and someone who wrote a critique on Lucretius. He is otherwise known as Curtius Nicias.

By: Peter K

Peter K — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 10:24:36 +0000

That’s what I’m saying. Nikias (of Kos). Protected by Antonius.

By: constantinakatsari

constantinakatsari — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 10:13:24 +0000

I will give you one more clue. A famous (infamous?) Roman may have been involved.

By: Peter K

Peter K — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:54:36 +0000

Nikias.

By: H Niyazi

H Niyazi — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:14:50 +0000

This is a tricky one! If I may be permitted a second attempt – I’d like to submit Pittacus of Mytilene.

By: constantinakatsari

constantinakatsari — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:06:13 +0000

Sorry Yianni,
we are still looking for a philologist and not a secretary!