Diophanes

• Of Mitylenae, teacher of Tib. Gracchus, Cic. Brut. 27, 104.—
• II Of Nicaea, a Latin author on husbandry, Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 8 al.

(Διοφάνης).

1. Of Mytilene, one of the most distinguished Greek rhetoricians of the time of the Gracchi. For reasons unknown to us, he was obliged to quit his native place, and went to Rome, where he instructed Tiberius Gracchus, and became his intimate friend. After T. Gracchus had fallen a victim to the oligarchical faction, Diophanes and many other friends of Gracchus were also put to death. (Cic. Brut. 27; Strab. xiii. p.617; Plut. T. Gracch. 8, 20.) Another much later rhetorician of the same name occurs in Porphyry's life of Plotinus.

2. Is quoted as the author of a history of Pontus, in several books. (Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. 3.241; Eudoc. p. 31.) [L.S]

(Διοφάνης) a native of Nicaea, in Bithynia, in the first century B. C., who abridged the agricultural work of Cassius Dionysius for the use of king Deiotarus. (Varr. De Re Rust. 1.1. 10; Colum. De Re Rust. 1.1. 10; Plin. H. N. Index to lib. viii.) His work consisted of six books, and was afterwards further abridged by Asinius Pollio. (Suid. s. v. Πωλίων.) Diophanes is quoted several times in the Collection of Greek Writers, De Re Rustica. [W.A.G]

the author of a worthless epigram in the Greek Anthology. (Brunck, Anal. 2.259; Jacobs, 2.236.) Jacobs thinks, that he is a late writer, and ought not to be identified with the Diophanes who is mentioned by Cicero and Plutarch as the instructor of Tiberius Gracchus, nor with the Diophanes whom Varro mentions. (Jacobs, xiii. p. 886.) [P.S]

• a Megalopolitan: Paus. 8.51.1
• brings all Peloponnese into Achaean League: Paus. 8.30.5