Ctesias in the Achaemenid Persia?

J 2021

Ctesias in the Achaemenid Persia?

PRUŠA, Libor

Basic information

Original name

Ctesias in the Achaemenid Persia?

Authors

PRUŠA, Libor (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Graeco-Latina Brunensia, Brno, Masarykova univerzita, 2021, 1803-7402

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

60101 History

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

archív GLB

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/21:00123652

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.5817/GLB2021-2-13

Keywords in English

Ctesias; Achaemenid Persia; Persica; Greek historiography

Abstract

V originále

This paper focuses on the life and works of Ctesias of Cnidus, a Greek physician living at the Achaemenid court during the reign of Artaxerxes II. Ctesias was the author of the important work on Persian history, customs, and court life called Persica. He spent many years in the Achaemenid Empire and summarized his experience and studies in his seminal work. Persica was a very influential discourse on Persia in antiquity even though Ctesias had a notoriously poor reputation. The core of the problem is the veracity of Ctesias' account, his claims of the usage of Persian sources, and his life in the Achaemenid Empire in general. Our main goal is to find possible answers to the stories circulating about his life in the Achaemenid Empire. Later authors criticized Ctesias for telling lies and promoting himself in the books. We will discuss how legitimate their approach is and whether the reputation of Ctesias is deserved. The problem will be studied in three chapters. In the first part of the article, we will take a closer look at the life of Ctesias. We will study the possible reasons for his departure to Persia, how he later managed to work for the King, what occupation and position he held at the court, which places in the Achaemenid Empire he visited, and why he left the court. In the second part, we will focus on the sources of his works. Their nature and content varied greatly and influenced his writings differently. In the last part, we will focus on Ctesias' possible knowledge of one or more of the languages spoken at the court. Foreign words also appear in his works and the list of them will be a part of the article.

Links

MUNI/A/1300/2020, interní kód MU

Name: Interdisciplinární výzkum řečtiny a latiny a jejich literatur (Acronym: Klasfilmed)

Investor: Masaryk University

Citovat

PRUŠA, Libor. Ctesias in the Achaemenid Persia? Graeco-Latina Brunensia. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2021, vol. 26, No 2, p. 211-224. ISSN 1803-7402. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.5817/GLB2021-2-13.

@article{1819678,
   author = {Pruša, Libor},
   article_location = {Brno},
   article_number = {2},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5817/GLB2021-2-13},
   keywords = {Ctesias; Achaemenid Persia; Persica; Greek historiography},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1803-7402},
   journal = {Graeco-Latina Brunensia},
   title = {Ctesias in the Achaemenid Persia?},
   url = {https://digilib.phil.muni.cz/bitstream/handle/11222.digilib/144595/1_GraecoLatinaBrunensia_26-2021-2_15.pdf?sequence=1},
   volume = {26},
   year = {2021}
}

TY  - JOUR
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AU  - Pruša, Libor
PY  - 2021
TI  - Ctesias in the Achaemenid Persia?
JF  - Graeco-Latina Brunensia
VL  - 26
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SP  - 211-224
EP  - 211-224
PB  - Masarykova univerzita
SN  - 18037402
KW  - Ctesias
KW  - Achaemenid Persia
KW  - Persica
KW  - Greek historiography
UR  - https://digilib.phil.muni.cz/bitstream/handle/11222.digilib/144595/1_GraecoLatinaBrunensia_26-2021-2_15.pdf?sequence=1
N2  - This paper focuses on the life and works of Ctesias of Cnidus, a Greek physician living at the Achaemenid court during the reign of Artaxerxes II. Ctesias was the author of the important work on Persian history, customs, and court life called Persica. He spent many years in the Achaemenid Empire and summarized his experience and studies in his seminal work. Persica was a very influential discourse on Persia in antiquity even though Ctesias had a notoriously poor reputation. The core of the problem is the veracity of Ctesias' account, his claims of the usage of Persian sources, and his life in the Achaemenid Empire in general. Our main goal is to find possible answers to the stories circulating about his life in the Achaemenid Empire. Later authors criticized Ctesias for telling lies and promoting himself in the books. We will discuss how legitimate their approach is and whether the reputation of Ctesias is deserved. The problem will be studied in three chapters. In the first part of the article, we will take a closer look at the life of Ctesias. We will study the possible reasons for his departure to Persia, how he later managed to work for the King, what occupation and position he held at the court, which places in the Achaemenid Empire he visited, and why he left the court. In the second part, we will focus on the sources of his works. Their nature and content varied greatly and influenced his writings differently. In the last part, we will focus on Ctesias' possible knowledge of one or more of the languages spoken at the court. Foreign words also appear in his works and the list of them will be a part of the article.
ER  -

PRUŠA, Libor. Ctesias in the Achaemenid Persia? \textit{Graeco-Latina Brunensia}. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2021, vol.~26, No~2, p.~211-224. ISSN~1803-7402. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.5817/GLB2021-2-13.

Detailed Information on Publication Record