Eighty of the oratorical discourses authored by Dio Chrysostom remain extant today, providing a significant record of his intellectual contributions to the Roman Empire. Born around 40 AD in Prusa, Bithynia, he established himself as a central figure of the Second Sophistic movement, blending rhetorical expertise with the practical ethics of Stoic and Platonist philosophy.
Early Life and Education
Born to his father Pasicrates in the Roman province of Bithynia, modern-day Bursa, Turkey, Dio initially built a career in his home city. He occupied influential civic offices while refining his skills in speechwriting and sophistical essay composition. During this period, he became deeply engaged with philosophy, finding the teachings of Musonius Rufus particularly compelling.
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Dio travelled to Rome during the reign of Vespasian but later fell into conflict with Emperor Domitian. In 82 AD, he faced banishment from Rome, Italy, and Bithynia for supporting a relative of the emperor involved in a conspiracy. Adopting the life of a wandering Cynic, he travelled across Thrace, Mysia, and Scythia, carrying only copies of Plato's Phaedo and Demosthenes's On the False Embassy.
Political Influence and Later Career
Following the assassination of Domitian in 96 AD, Dio leveraged his influence with frontier military units to support Nerva. The new emperor ended his exile, prompting Dio to adopt the surname Cocceianus. He later maintained close ties with Emperor Trajan, to whom he addressed four significant orations on kingship. By 111 AD, he was actively engaged in local legal matters regarding civic architecture in Prusa.
Philosophical and Literary Output
As a prominent sophist, Dio produced work that served as a transition from oral teaching to written discourse. His surviving Orationes cover topics ranging from political virtue and moral philosophy to myth and practical ethics. Beyond his speeches, he authored historical works such as Getica, though many of his writings have been lost over time.
Fast facts
- Born: 0040, Prusa
- Died: 0120
- Citizenship: Ancient Rome
- Fields: Philosophy, Stoicism, Rhetoric
- Notable work: Orationes
- Movement: Second Sophistic
Questions readers ask
What does the name Chrysostom mean?
It is derived from the Greek word chrysostomos, which translates to golden-mouthed.
Did all of his writings survive?
No, while eighty orations, five letters, and minor fragments remain, many of his other philosophical and historical compositions were lost.
Achievements
- Notable work: Orationes
- Fields: philosophy, stoicism and rhetoric