PUBLIUS HERENNIUS

DEXIPPUS (c. A.D. 210-273)  , Greek historian, statesman and general, was an hereditary priest of the Eleusinian family of the Kerykes, and held the offices of archon basileus and eponymus in Athens . When the Heruli overran Greece and captured Athens (269), Dexippus showed great personal courage and revived the spirit of patriotism among his degenerate fellow-countrymen . A statue was set up in his honour, the base of which, with an inscription recording his services, has been preserved (Corpus Inscrr . Atticarum, iii . No . 716) . It is remarkable that the inscription is silent as to his military achievements . Photius (cod . 82) mentions three historical works by Dexippus, of which considerable fragments remain: (I) Ta µer' 'AXEEavbpov, an epitome of a similarly named work by Arrian; (2) ?KVOIK&, a history of the wars of Rome with the Goths (or Scythians) in the 3rd century; (3) Xpovuo tvropia, a chronological history from the earliest times to the emperor Claudius Gothicus (270), frequently referred to by the writers of the Augustan history . The work was continued by Eunapius of Sardis down to 404 . Photius speaks very highly of the style of Dexippus, whom he places on a level with Thucydides, an opinion by no means confirmed by the fragments (C . W .

Muller, F.H.G. iii . 666-687) .