A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

1018 DIODORUS.
defence which he made. Strabo adds, that the
younger Diodorus, who was his own friend, composed historical writings, lyrics, and other poems,
which were written in an antique style (TrlV
dpXafav ypaqnjv e'ual'vovra icavws). The epigrams of the Diodori, of which there are several,
were included by Philip of Thessalonica in his
collection, and they now form a part of the Greek
Anthology. (Brunck, Anal. ii. 80, 185; Jacobs,
ii. 67, 170.) There is considerable difficulty in
assigning each of the epigrams to its proper author,
and probably some of them belong to a third Diodorus, a grammarian of Tarsus, who is also mentioned by Strabo (xiv. p. 675), and as it seems, by
other ancient writers. (Jacobs, xiii. 883, 884;
Fabric. Bibl. Graec. iv. pp. 380, 472, vi. pp. 363,
364.) [P.S.]
DIODO'RUS, comes and magister scriniorum,
one of the commissioners appointed by Theodosius
the younger, in A. D. 435, to compile the Theodosian code. Theodosius originally intended that, as
an historical monument for the use of the learned,
there should be compiled a general code of constitutions, supplementary to the Gregorian and Hermogenian codes. These three codes taken together
were intended to comprise all the general constitutions of the emperors, not such only as were in
actual force, but such also as were superseded
or had become obsolete. In order, however, that
in case of conflict, the reader might be able to distinguish the more modern enactment, which was
to prevail over the more ancient one, the arrangement under each subject was to be chronological,
and dates were to be carefully added. From this
general code, with the help of the works and opinions of jurists, was to be formed a select code, excluding every thing not in force and containing the
whole body of practical law. In A. D. 429, nine commissioners were appointed, charged with the task
of compiling, first, the general historical, and then,
the select practical code. The nine named were
Antiochus, ex-quaestor and praefect; another Antiochus, quaestor palatii; Theodorus, Eudicius, Eusebius, Joannes, Comazon, Eubulus, and Apelles.
This plan was not carried into execution. Theodosius changed his purpose, and contented himself
with projecting a single code, which should contain
imperial constitutions only, without admixture of
the jus civile of the jurists, or, as an English lawyer
would express it, which should exhibit a consolidation of the statutory, but not of the common or unwritten law. For the changed plan sixteen commissioners were named in A. D. 435, who were
directed to dispose chronologically under the same
title those constitutions, or parts of constitutions,
which were connected in subject; and were empowered to remove what was superfluous, to add
what was necessary, to change whatwas doubtful by
substituting what was clear, and to correctwhat was
inconsistent. The sixteen named were Antiochus,
praefectorius and consularis; Eubulus, Maximinus,
Sperantius, Martyrius, Alipius, Sebastianus, Apollodorus, Theodorus, Oron, Maximus, Epigenius,
Diodorus, Procopius, Erotius, Neuterius. It will
be observed that only three, (namely, Antiochus,
Theodorus, and Eubulus) who belonged to the first
commission were nominated upon the second.
In the constitution concerning the authority of the
Theodosian code, eight only of the sixteen named
upon the second commission are signalized as having
been actively employed in the composition of the

DIODOTUS.
code. These eight are Antiochus, Maximinus,
Martyrius, Sperantius, Appollodorus, Theodorus,
Epigenius, and Procopius. (Cod. Theod. 1, tit. 1,
s. 5, ib. s. 6, ~ 2; Const. de Theod. Cod. Auct.
~ 7.) [J. T. G.]
DIODO'RUS (Ao'Awcpos), a Greek physician,
who must have lived some time in or before the
first century after Christ, as he is quoted by Pliny.
(H. N. xxix. 39.) He may perhaps be the same
person who is said by Galen (de Mleth. Med. ii. 7,
vol. x. p. 142) to have belonged to the medical
sect of the Empirici, and whose medical formulae
he several times quotes. (De Compos. Medicam.
sec. Locos, v. 3, vol. xii. p. 834; x. 3, vol. xiii.
p. 361.) [W.A.G.]
DIODO'RUS, artists. 1. A silversmith, on
whose silver image of a sleeping satyr there is an
epigram by Plato in the Greek Anthology. (Anth.
Plan. iv. 12, 248.) The idea contained in the
epigram is applied by Pliny to a similar work of
STRATONICUS.
2. A worthless painter, who is ridiculed in an
epigram. (Anth. Pal. xi. 213.) [P. S.]
DIO'DOTUS (AtoioTos), the son of Eucrates
(possibly, but not probably, the flax-seller of that
name who is said to have preceded Cleon in influence
with the Athenians), is only known as the orator
who in the two discussions on the punishment to be
inflicted on Mytilene (B. c. 427), took the most prominent part against Cleon's sanguinary motion.
(Thuc. iii. 41.) The substance of his speech on
the second day we may suppose ourselves to have
in the language of Thucydides (iii. 42-48). The
expressions of his opponent lead us to take him for
one of the rising class of professional orators, the
earliest produce of the labours of the Sophists. If
so, he is a singularly favourable specimen. Of his
eloquence we cannot judge; but if, in other points,
Thucydides represents him fairly, he certainly on
this occasion displayed the ingenuity of the Sophists,
the tact of the practised debater, and soundness of
view of the statesman, in the service of a cause
that deserved and needed them all. He cautiously
shifts the argument from the justice to the policy
of the measure. Feelings of humanity were
already excited; the people only wished a justification for indulging them. This he finds them
in the certainty that revolt at any risk would be
ventured; severities could not check, and would
surely make it more obstinately persevered in;
and in the exceeding inexpediency of confounding,
by indiscriminate slaughter, their friends, the democratic party, with those who would in any case
be their enemies,-a suggestion probably, at that
time, far from obvious. To his skill we must ascribe the revocation of the preceding day's vote
in Cleon's favour, and the preservation of Mytilene from massacre, and Athens from a great
crime. [A. H. C.]
DIO'DOTUS (Ald6oros) I., King of Bactria,
and founder of the Bactrian monarchy, which continued to subsist under a Greek dynasty for above
one hundred and fifty years. This prince as well
as his successor is called by Justin, Theodotus, but
the form Diodotus, which occurs in Strabo (xi. p.
515) seems to have been that used by Trogus Pompeius (Prol. Trogi Pompeii, lib. xli.), is confirmed by the evidence of an unique gold coin now
in the museum at Paris. (See Wilson, Ariana, p.
219.)
Both the period and circumstances of the esta