Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian born in Sicily. His magnum opus, Bibliotheca Historica, consisted of forty books divided into three sections, and was written around 60-30 BC.
The first book describe the history and culture of Egypt. Below you will find the names of the kings mentioned, with a short description. He used the works of earlier historians, like Herodotus, adapting events and stories to his own end. It is likely that he was told many stories about the pharaohs, but mixed up exactly which pharaoh each belonged to. It is still valuable as he actually visited Egypt and most likely talked to the priests. If nothing else, it is still a source of the pharaohs.
Section | Greek | Transliteration | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
1.45.1/3 | Μηναν / Μηνα | Menan / Mena | Introduced his people to luxury |
1.45.2 | Τνεφαχθον | Tnephachthon | Denounced luxury and cursed Menes, which is why his name was almost forgotten |
1.45.2 | Βοκχοριδος | Bokkhoridos | |
1.47.4 | Οσυμανδυας | Osymandyas | |
1.50.3 | Ουχορευς | Oukhoreus | The eight king, founded Memphis |
1.51.5 | Μοιρις | Moiris | Succeeded to the throne 12 generations after Uchoreus |
1.53.1 | Σεσοωσις | Sesoösis | Seven generations after Moeris, a great king. Killed himself after becoming blind after 33 years reign |
1.60.1 | Aμασις | Amasis | Ruled with great harshness and contempt |
1.60.2 | Aκτισανης | Aktisanes | King of Ethiopia, defeated Amasis |
1.61.1 | Μενδην | Menden | Who some call Μάρρον (Marron), built the Labyrinth |
1.62.1 | Κετηνα | Cetes | Thought by Greeks to be Πρωνεύς (Proneus) |
1.62.5 | Pεμφις | Rhemphis | Amassed riches and left a treasure larger than that of any king before him |
1.63.1 | Νειλέως | Neileos | After whom the Nile river is named |
1.63.2 | Χεμμις | Khemmis | Eight king of Memphis, ruled 50 years, and built the largest pyramid |
1.64.1 | Κεφρην | Kephren | Brother of Χέμμις who succeded him. Built the second pyramid. |
1.64.1 | Χαβρυην | Khabryen | Son of Chemmis who some say took the throne after him, not Cephren. |
1.64.6 | Μυκερινος | Mukerinos | Who some call Μεγχερῖνον (Mencherinon), a son of Chemmis |
1.65.2 | Σαβακων | Sabakon | By birth an Ethiopian, yet in piety and uprightness far surpassed his predecessors |
1.66.8 | Ψαμμητιχος | Psammetikhos | |
1.68.1 | Aπριης | Apries | King for 22 years, strangled by the men of Amasis |
1.68.3 | Aμασις | Amasis | Ruled for 55 years until Cambyses conquered Egypt |
15.92.2 | Ταχως | Takhos | King Tachos of Egypt received 500 talents of silver and 50 warships |
Bibliography
- Bekker, Dindorf, Vogel., 1888. Diodori Bibliotheca Historica, Vol 1. Leipzig.
- Booth, George., 1814. Historical Library, translation from 1814 @ Wikisource:
- Diodorus, Siculus., 1933–1967. Diodorus Siculus. Library of History. 12 vols. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Laucus Curtius: