Sosicrates

(Σωσικράτης), a vice-general of the Achaeans in their war against the Romans (B. C. 147), was the chief mover of the resolution, taken by an assembly held at Corinth, to endeavour to treat with Metellus; for which act, upon the arrival of Diaeus at Corinth, he was condemned to death; and, in the hope of extorting a confession from him, he was subjected to the severest tortures, under which he expired. This cruel deed so disgusted the people, that Diaeus did not venture to carry out his intention of putting to death the ambassadors who had been sent to Metellus. (Plb. 40.5; Thirlwall, Hist. of Greece, vol. viii. p. 451.) [P.S]

(Σωσικράγης), literary.

1. A comic poet, whose time is unknown. Pollux quotes twice from his play entitled Παρακαταθήκη (Poll. 9.57, 4.173; in both passages the name is corrupted ; in the former into Ἱπποκράγης, in the latter into Κράγης; but in the latter passage a manuscript has Σωσικράγης). His Φιλάδελφοι also is cited by Athenaeus (xi. p. 474a.); and there are some other quotations from unknown plays of his. (Ath. i. p. 31e.; Stob. Flor. 23.2 ; Maxim. Conf. p. 198, Gesner.) From the titles of his plays, Meineke thinks it more probable that he belonged to the New Comedy than to the Middle. (Meineke, Frag. Coin. Graec. vol. i. pp. 498, 499, vol. iv. pp. 591, 592; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. ii. p. 495.)

2. Of Rhodes, an historical writer, who is quoted by Diogenes Laertius (2.84) as an authority for the statement, that Aristippus wrote nothing. It is therefore inferred, with much probability, that he is the same as the Sosicrates whose work upon the Succession of the Philosophers is quoted by Athenaeus (iv. p. 163f, Σωσικράγης ἐν τρίτψ φιλοσόφων διαδοχῆς). He also wrote a work on the history of Crete, Κρητικά, which is frequently quoted. (Strab. x. p.474; Ath. vi. p. 261e. et alib.) He flourished after Hermippus and before Apollodorus, and therefore between B. C. 200 and B. C. 128. (Clinton, F. H. vol. iii. p. 565.)

There appear to have been other writers of the name; such as Sosicrates Phanagorites, whose Ἠοῖοι is quoted by Athenaeus (xiii. p. 590. b.) ; and a certain Sosicrates quoted by Fulgentius Planciades (s. v. Nefrendes). The passage of a Sosicrates of Cyzicus, cited by Fulgentius (Myth. 2.13, is evidently copied from a quotation made by Diogenes Laertius from the Succession of Philosophers. The name is sometimes confounded with Socrates. (Vossius, de Hist. Graec. p. 500, ed. Westermann; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. ii. p. 873, vol. vi. p. 138.) [P.S]