Diony'sius
1.
Aelius Dionysius, a Greek rhetorician of Halicarnassus, who lived in the time of the emperor Hadrian.
He was a very skilful musician, and wrote several works on music and its history. (Suid.
s. v. Διονύσιος.
It is commonly supposed that he was a descendant of the elder Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the author of the Roman Archaeology. Respecting his life nothing further is known.
Works
Lost works attributed to Dionysius by the ancients
The following works, which are now lost, are attributed to him by the ancients :
1. A Dictionary of Attic words (Ἀττικὰ ὀνόματα）
In five books, dedicated to one Scymnus. Photius (
Bibl. Cod. 152) speaks in high terms of its usefulness, and states, that Aelius Dionysius himself made two editions of it, the second of which was a great improvement upon the first. Both editions appear to have existed in the time of Photius.
It seems to have been owing to this work that Aelius Dionysius was called sometimes by the surname of Atticista.
In 36 books, with accounts of citharoedi, auletae, and poets of all kinds. (Suid.
l.c.）
In 24 books. (Suid.
l.c.）
In 22 books. (Suid.
l.c.）
5.
A work in five books on what Plato had said about music in his
Meursius was of opinion that our Dionysius was the author of the work
περὶ ἀκλίτων ῥημάτων και ἐγκλινομένων λέξεων.
Edition
This was published by Aldus Manutius (Venice, 1496) in the volume entitled " Horti Adonidis;" but there is no evidence for this supposition. (Comp. Schol. Venet.
ad Iliad. 15.705; Villoison,
Prolegom. ad Hom. Il. p. xxix.)
Further Information
Suid.
l.c.; Eudoc. p. 131.
