Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian, who wrote a universal history, Bibliotheca Historica. This history consisted of 40 books and was divided into three parts:
- The mythic history of the non-Hellenic and Hellenic tribes up to the destruction of Troy
- Through the death of Alexander the Great
- Through the beginning of Caesar's Gallic Wars
The Bibliotheca is an invaluable source, since no other continuous historical source has survived, and covers periods missing in the works of earlier authors, from which it was compiled. Diodorus does not always quote his authorities, but in the books that have survived his most important sources for Greek history were certainly Ephorus (for 480–340 BC) and Hieronymus of Cardia (for 323–302).
Diodorus lived in the time of Julius Caesar and Augustus. His own statements make it clear that he travelled in Egypt during 60–57 BC and spent several years in Rome. The latest event mentioned by him belongs to the year 21 BC.
Sources
"Diodorus Siculus." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 23 Aug. 2007 <https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9030527>.