The Dionian Charidemus

Abstract The Charidemus attributed to Dio Chrysostom ostensibly commemorates a recently deceased pupil of Dio’s named Charidemus. As Or. 30 in the extant Dionian corpus the piece suitably follows Orr. 28 and 29, the two obituary encomia of the athlete Melancomas. On any reading, Or. 30 is adroitly conceived and executed and not without pathos. Yet the bibliography, despite recent and forthcoming items, remains inchoate, its growth perhaps stunted by nervousness over the alleged problem of authenticity. Authenticity is indeed not guaranteed by presence in the corpus. Thus Orr. 37 and 64 are generally agreed to be by Favorinus, one of Dio’s most distinguished pupils. Nor does the piece’s proximity to Orr. 28 and 2i significantly support authenticity: Orr. 37 and 64 are also appropriately contextualized. Might Or. 30, then, be ‘school of Dio’ rather than Dio himself? The piece also poses substantial interpretative problems, which have so far eluded resolution.