Thracians: Diodoros on Dromichaites and Kotys as wise Thracian kings (mid-first century BCE)

Citation with stable link: Philip A. Harland, 'Thracians: Diodoros on Dromichaites and Kotys as wise Thracian kings (mid-first century BCE),' Ethnic Relations and Migration in the Ancient World, last modified March 25, 2024, https://philipharland.com/Blog/?p=18640.

Ancient author: Diodoros (ca. 36 BCE), Library of History 21.11-12 and 30.3, fragments drawn from the excerpts of Constantine Porphyrogennetos (link).

Comments: These are extracts later drawn from Diodoros’ lost books in which he outlines  various incidents under Greco-Macedonian rule, now in the early third century BCE. It is difficult to distinguish what Diodoros may have said from the moralizing commentary of those who extracted episodes for Constantine Porphyrogennetos, however.

Since Diodoros seldom says much about the Thracians as a people, it is significant that he chose to relate a story about a Thracian king’s wisdom in this case. Dromichaites is pictured dealing with the capture of the Macedonian king Lysimachos (placed around 292 BCE) in an intelligent manner, resulting in Lysimachos’ favour. Ironically, however, Dromichaites is pictured describing his own people as barbarous and savage. At the same time, the characterization of Getian or Thracian meals suggests a simple lifestyle that avoids problematic luxury. So this comes across as a case of wise and noble barbarians.

I have now added a similar passage about the Thracian king Kotys, who is pictured rising above the negative character traits of Thracians generally.

Contrast Diodoros’ extremely negative portrayal of the cruel Thracian king Diegylos, set in the 140s BCE (link coming soon).

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[For Diodoros’ preceding discussion of Nabateans, go to this link]

[Dromichaites, ca. 292 BCE]

(21.11-12) The Thracians captured Agathokles, the king’s [Lysimachos, king of Macedon] son, but sent him home with gifts, partly to prepare for themselves a refuge against the surprises of Fortune, partly in the hope of recovering through this act of humanity that part of their territory which Lysimachos had seized. For they no longer hoped to be able to prevail in the war, since almost all the most powerful kings were now in agreement, and were in military alliance one with another. . . [omitted section].

. . . Dromichaites, the king of the Thracians, having given king Lysimachos every mark of welcome, having kissed him, and even called him “father,” then brought him and his children to a city called Helis. After the capture of the army of Lysimachos, the Thracians assembling quickly shouted that the captured king should be brought into their midst for punishment. It was simply right, they cried, that the multitude who had shared the hazard of battle should debate and decide what was to be done with the prisoners. Dromichaites spoke against punishing the king and pointed out to the soldiers the advantages of preserving his life. If Lysimachos was executed, he said, other kings, possibly more to be feared than their predecessor, would assume the authority of Lysimachos. If, on the other hand, his life were spared, he would owe a debt of gratitude to the Thracians, and with no hazard to themselves they would recover the forts that had formerly been Thracian.

When the multitude had given its approval to this policy, Dromichaites searched out from among the prisoners the friends of Lysimachos and those who were accustomed to be in constant attendance upon him, and led them to the captive monarch. Then, having offered sacrifice, he invited Lysimachos and his friends to the banquet, together with the most suitable Thracians. He prepared two sets of couches, using for the company of Lysimachos the royal drapery that formed part of the spoils, but for himself and his friends cheap beds of straw. In like manner, he had two different meals prepared, and set before his foreign guests a prodigal array of all kinds of delicacies served on a silver table, while before the Thracians was placed a modestly prepared dish of herbs and meat, their meal being set out upon a cheap board. Finally, for his guests he poured out wine in gold and silver cups, but for his own people, as was the custom of the Getians (Getai), in cups of horn or wood.

After they had been drinking some time, Dromichaites filled the largest of the drinking-horns, and addressing Lysimachos as “father,” asked him which banquet seemed more fit for kings, the Macedonian or the Thracian. Lysimachos replied: “The Macedonian.” Dromichaites asked: “Then why, after leaving behind such splendid ways of living and a more glorious kingdom, did you desire to come among men who are barbarous and lead a savage existence, and to a wintry land deficient in cultivated grains and fruit? Why did you force a way against nature to bring an army into such a place as this, where no foreign force can survive in the open?” In reply Lysimachos said that in regard to this campaign he had acted blindly; but for the future he would endeavour to aid him as a friend, and not to fall short in returning kindness for kindness. Dromichaites received these words graciously, obtained the return of the districts that Lysimachos had seized, placed a diadem on his head, and sent him on his way.

[For Diodoros’ subsequent discussion of the invasion by the Galatians, go to this link]

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[For Diodoros’ preceding discussion of the Celts’ invading Greece, go to this link]

[Kotys, ca. 170 BCE]

(30.3) Kotys, king of the Thracians, was a man who in matters of warfare moved with vigour and was superior in judgement, and who in other respects as well was responsible and deserving of friendship. He was abstinent and circumspect in the highest degree, and most important of all, was completely exempt from the evil behaviours that are characteristic of Thracians.

[For Diodoros’ subsequent discussion of Viriathus and the Lusitanians, go to this link]

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Source of translation: F.R. Walton, Diodorus Sicilus: Library of History, volume 11, LCL (Cambridge, MA: HUP, 1957), public domain (copyright not renewed), adapted by Harland.

 

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