Hecataeus

• a famous historian and geographer of Miletus, son of Hegesander, Plin. 6, 17, 20, § 55; Solin. 19, 2; 40, 6: Milesius, Avien. Or. Mar. 42.

(Ἑκαταῖος). (1) A Greek chronicler, born of a noble family at Miletus, about B.C. 550. In his youth he travelled widely in Europe and Asia, as well as in Egypt. At the time of the Ionian revolt he was in his native city, and gave his countrymen the wisest counsels, but in vain. After the suppression of the rising, he succeeded by his tact and management in obtaining some alleviation of the hard measures adopted by the Persians. He died about 476. The ancient critics assigned him a high place among the Greek historians who preceded Herodotus, though pronouncing him inferior to the latter. His two works, of which only fragments remain, were: (a) A description of the earth (Περίοδος Γῆς or Περιήγησις), which was much consulted by Herodotus, and was apparently used to correct the chart of Anaximander. It was in two parts, one relating to Europe and the other to Asia, Egypt, and Libya. (b) A treatise on Greek fables, entitled Γενεαλογίαι, or Genealogies, and also Ἱστορίαι, in four books, on the poetical traditions of the Greeks. The fragments of Hecataeus have been edited by Klausen (Berlin, 1831) and C. and Th. Müller (Paris, 1841). See Schäffer, Hecataeus (1885); and the article Logographi.

(2) An Abderite, a contemporary of Alexander the Great. He was a philosopher, critic, and grammarian, and probably was the author of a history of the Jews cited often by Iosephus.

• the historian, his chronology: Hdt. 2.143
• his advice to Ionian rebels: Hdt. 5.36, Hdt. 5.125
• his story of Athenian dealings with Pelasgians: Hdt. 6.137
• on Auge: Paus. 8.4.9, Paus. 8.47.4
• on hound of hell: Paus. 3.25.5
• on Oechalia: Paus. 4.2.3