Callisthĕnes
(
Καλλισθένης). A Greek historian, born at Olynthus about
B.C. 360. He was a relation of Aristotle, from whom he received instruction at the same time
as Alexander the Great. He accompanied Alexander on his Asiatic campaign, and offended him by
refusing to pay him servile homage after the Persian fashion, and by other daring exhibitions
of independence. The consequence was that the king threw his friend into prison on the pretext
that he was concerned in a conspiracy against his life. Callisthenes died in captivity in B.C.
328, in consequence, probably, of maltreatment. Of his historical writings, particularly those
dealing with the exploits of Alexander, only fragments remain; but he was always ranked among
the most famous historians. Indeed, his reputation as the companion of Alexander and the
historian of his achievements maintained itself so well that he was made responsible in
literature for the romantic narrative of Alexander's life which grew up in the following
centuries. This was translated into Latin towards the end of the third century a.d by Iulius
Valerius
(q.v.), and became the main authority for the mediæval adaptations of the myth of
Alexander. See the work of Westermann,
De Callisthene (Leipzig,
1838-42).