Diogenianus

Diogenianus (Greek: Διογενειανός, Διογενιανός) was a Greek grammarian from Heraclea in Pontus (or in Caria) who flourished during the reign of Hadrian (117–138).^[1] He was the author of an alphabetical lexicon, chiefly of poetical words, abridged from the great lexicon (Περὶ γλωσσῶν) of Pamphilus of Alexandria (AD 50) and other similar works. It was also known by the title Περιεργοπένητες (“Manual for those without means”). It formed the basis of the lexicon, or rather glossary, of Hesychius of Alexandria, which is described in the preface as a new edition of the work of Diogenianus. A collection of 776 proverbs under his name is still extant bearing the name Παροιμίαι δημώδεις ἐκ τῆς Διογενιανοῦ συναγωγῆς, probably an abridgment of the collection made by himself from his lexicon (ed. by Ernst von Leutsch and Friedrich Wilhelm Schneidewin in Paroemiographi Graeci, i. 1839). Diogenianus was also the author of an "Anthology of epigrams about rivers, lakes, cliffs, mountains and mountain ridges" (Ἐπιγραμμάτων ἀνθολόγιον περὶ ποταμῶν λιμνῶν κρηνῶν ὀρῶν ἀκρωρειῶν), a list (with map) of all the towns in the world (Συναγωγὴ καὶ πίναξ τῶν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ πόλεων).,^[2] and of a list of rivers (περὶ ποταμῶν κατὰ στοιχεῖον ἐπίτομος ἀναγραφή)

Erasmus in his Adagia (1508) attributes to Diogenianus the origins of the Latin proverb piscem natare doces (teach fish how to swim; Greek: Ἰχθὺν νήχεσθαι διδάσκεις).^[3]

Diogenianus is the first person known to have referred to the parable of The Dog in the Manger.

Notes

^ Dickey 2007, pp. 88–90.
^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Diogenianus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 282.
^ Erasmus, Desiderius (2005). Grant, John N. (ed.). Collected Works of Erasmus. Vol. 35: Adages Ill iv 1 to IV ii 100. Translated by Drysdall, Denis. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 134. ISBN 0802036430. Read online: Erasmus (2005), p. 134, at Google Books.

References

Dickey, Eleanor (2007). Ancient Greek Scholarship: a Guide to Finding, Reading, and Understanding Scholia, Commentaries, Lexica, and Grammatical Treatises, from their Beginnings to the Byzantine Period. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195312928.
Erasmus, Desiderius (1974). Schoeck, Richard J.; Corrigan, Beatrice (eds.). Collected works of Erasmus. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802019813.

External links

Corpus paroemiographorum graecorum, E. L. Leutsch, F. G. Schneidewin (ed.), vol. 1, Gottingae, apud Vandenohoeck et Ruprecht, 1839, pp. 177–320 [1].
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, By various writers. Ed. by William Smith, 1867, Vol. I, pp. 1024 [2]
Suda On Line entries on search term “Diogenianus” [3]
Leopold Cohn: Diogenianos (4). In: Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft (RE). Band V,1, Stuttgart 1903, Sp. 778–783. [4]
Paroemiographi graeci, quorum pars nunc ex codicibus manuscriptis vulgatur. by Gaisford, Thomas. 1836. Oxonii E Typographeo Academico
Paroemiographi graeci: Zenobius. Diogenianus. Plutarchus. Gregorius Cyprius. Ernst von Leutsch, Friedrich Wilhelm Schneidewin - 1839
Paroemiographi graeci: Diogenianus, Gregorius Cyprius, Macarius, Aesopus, Apostolius et Arsenius, Mantissa proverborium. Ernst Ludwig von Leutsch, Friedrich Wilhelm Schneidewin. 1851.

[FOOTNOTEDickey200788–90-1] Dickey 2007, pp. 88–90.

[2] One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Diogenianus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 282.

[3] Erasmus, Desiderius (2005). Grant, John N. (ed.). Collected Works of Erasmus. Vol. 35: Adages Ill iv 1 to IV ii 100. Translated by Drysdall, Denis. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 134. ISBN 0802036430. Read online: Erasmus (2005), p. 134, at Google Books.

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