Dio Chrysostom, Dion of Prusa or Dio Cocceianus (c. 40 AD–c. 120 AD) was a Greek orator, writer, philosopher and historian of the Roman Empire in the first century. Eighty of his Discourses remain in existence. His surname Chrysostom comes from the Greek chrysostomos, which literally means golden mouthed. For alternate uses, see Number 40. ... For other uses, see number 120. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ...

He was born at Prusa (now Bursa) in the Roman province of Bithynia (now part of northwestern Turkey). His date of birth is considered to be sometime about 40 to 45 AD. He became a Cynic and a Stoic and is considered part of the second Sophist school of Greek philosophers. He apparently lived in Rome during the reign of Titus Flavius as he wrote of a scandalous association that emperor had with the boxer Melankomas. He was a critic of the Emperor Domitian, who banished him from Rome, Italy, and Bithynia in 82 AD for advising one of the Emperor's conspiring relatives. During his exile he apparently travelled widely in the Roman Empire, often dressed in rags and performing manual labour. After Domitian was assassinated in 96 AD, Dio reputedly talked an encampment of Roman troops out of a mutiny and persuaded them to accept the will of the Roman people. Under Emperor Nerva's reign, his exile was ended and he adopted the surname Cocceianus in later life to honour the support given to him by the emperor, whose full name was Marcus Cocceius Nerva. After Nerva's death he became close friends with the Emperor Trajan. In his later life Dio returned to Prusa, where he apparently had some status, as there are records of him being involved in an urban renewal lawsuit about 111 AD. He is believed to have died some time after 112 AD, possibly 115 to 120 AD. Prusa may indicate a number of things: An alternative rendering of the town of Bursa, Turkey. ... Bursa Bursa is the capital of the Bursa Province in northwestern Turkey. ... This article contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... The Cynics were an influential school of ancient philosophers. ... Stoicism is a school of philosophy commonly associated with such Greek philosophers as Zeno of Citium, Cleanthes, or Chrysippus and with such later Romans as Cicero, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus. ... Sophism was originally a term for the techniques taught by a highly respected group of philosophy and rhetoric teachers in ancient Greece. ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,553,873 almost 4,300,000 1. ... This is about the emperor of ancient Rome. ... Melankomas, or Melancomas, of Caria was a boxer, winner of the 207th (ancient Roman) Olympiad in 49 AD. He was known for his athleticism, good looks, and brave heart. ... Domitian bust in the Louvre Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 – 18 September 96), commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman emperor of the gens Flavia. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 0s BC - 0s - 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s Years: 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 Events Roman emperor Domitian is also a Roman Consul. ... For other uses, see number 96. ... Marcus Cocceius Nerva (November 8, 30 –January 27, 98), Roman emperor (96–98), was a member of the Italian nobility rather than one of the elite of Rome; in this he was like Vespasian, the founder of the Flavian dynasty. ... Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus (September 18, 53 – August 9, 117), Roman Emperor (98-117), commonly called Trajan, was the second of the Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire. ... For other uses, see number 111. ... Events Pope Sixtus I succeeds Pope Alexander I Jews in Egypt and Cyrene ignite a revolt against the rule of the Roman Empire, which spreads to Cyprus, Judea, and the Roman province of Mesopotamia. ...

His Discourses cover a wide range of topics and appear to be written versions of his orations. Some of these may have been prepared for presentation to Trajan on special occasions. Subjects include Kingship, Diogenes' lifestyle, vice and virtue, freedom, slavery, wealth, greed, war, hostilities and peace, good government and other moral issues. He also argued strongly against permitting prostitution. Diogenes (Διογένης) is a Greek name shared by several important historical figures: Diogenes of Sinope ( 412- 323 BC), better known as Diogenes the Cynic or simply Diogenes Diogenes Apolloniates (c:a 460 BC), philosopher Diogenes of Seleukia (c:a 150 BC) Diogenes Laertius (between 200- 500 AD), historian This is...

He was a contemporary of Plutarch, Tacitus and Pliny the Younger. Although he did not write about the Christians as such, his philosophy has been considered a moral parallel to that of Paul of Tarsus and indicates that the early Greek Christians drew upon the Cynic and Stoic philosophies when developing their Christian faith. Being a stoic, he also advocated return to Nature and a simple life. Plutarch Mestrius Plutarchus (c. ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (63-ca. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. ... An early portrait of the Apostle Paul. ...

On the position of the Druids among the Celts, Dion notes that Arch-Druid in his full Judicial Costume (1845 etching) In Celtic polytheism the word Druid denotes the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies, which existed through much of Western Europe north of the Alps and in the British Isles. ... This article is about the European people. ...

"Without the Druids, the Kings may neither do nor consult anything; so that in reality they are the Druids who reign, while the Kings, though they sit on golden thrones, dwell in spacious palaces, and feed on costly dishes, are only their ministers."

Dio Chrysostom should not be confused with his grandson Dio Cassius, who was also a historian of the Romans, nor with the fourth-century bishop John Chrysostom of Antioch. Dio Cassius Cocceianus (155–after 229), known in English as Dio Cassius or Cassius Dio, was a noted Roman historian and public servant. ... Saint John Chrysostom John Chrysostom (347 - 407) was a notable Christian bishop and preacher from the 4th and 5th centuries in Syria and Constantinople. ...

External links

• Dio Chrysostom entry from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001
• Rome Under Better Emperors 96-180