Criticism > Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism > Bion - Jan Fredrik Kindstrand (essay date 1976)

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Jan Fredrik Kindstrand (essay date 1976)

SOURCE: “Life” in Bion of Borysthenes, TEXTgruppen, 1976, pp. 3-20.

[In the following excerpt, Kindstrand narrates Bion's life from birth to death and explains the popularity of his lectures. He also includes an extensive list of relevant works.]

Bion,¹ usually known as the Borysthenite² in the ancient tradition, was born in the Greek city of Olbia,³ situated on the northern coast of the Black Sea, on the right bank of the river Hypanis and not very far from its confluence with the river Borysthenes.⁴ The inhabitants of Olbia and also their city were usually named by other Greeks from the latter river.⁵ Olbia was originally colonised from Miletus,⁶ being founded in 646/5 b.c.⁷ During the later part of the fourth century b.c., i.e. when Bion was born, the two cities renewed an agreement on isopolity.⁸ Olbia...

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1. Introduction
2. Principal Works
3. Criticism
   1. Diogenes Laertius (essay date c. 200)
   2. J. Wight Duff (essay date 1936)
   3. Gilbert Highet (essay date 1962)
   4. C. A. Van Rooy (essay date 1965)
   5. Jan Fredrik Kindstrand (essay date 1976)
4. Further Reading
5. Copyright