Nicolaus Reads Euphiletus: A Note on the Nachleben of Lysias 1

Abstract

The account of Gyges’ ascent to the throne offered in Nicolaus of Damascus’ Universal History (FGrH 90 F 44–47) has been traced directly to the work of the fifth-century Lydian historian Xanthus. This study examines Nicolaus’ clever manipulation of narrative motifs derived from the Bellerophon myth and Lysias 1. The use of the latter, in particular, suggests that the relation­ship to Xanthus’ account is far from straightforward and tells against the view of Nicolaus as a mere redactor.