Damastes

(Δαμάστης), of Sigeum, a Greek historian, and a contemporary of Herodotus and Hellanicus of Lesbos, with the latter of whom he is often mentioned.

Suidas even calls him a disciple of Hellanicus, while Porphyry (apud Euseb. Praep. Evang. ix. p. 468) states, that Hellanicus borrowed from Damastes and Herodotus several statements concerning the manners and customs of foreign nations. This latter statement has led some critics to assume, that Porphyry alludes to a later Hellanicus of Miletus; but there is no reason for such a supposition, and the simpler solution is, that the work of Damastes was published before that of Hellanicus, or what is more likely, that Porphyry made a blunder.

Works

According to Suidas (comp. Eudoc. p. 127), Damastes wrote,-- 1. A History of Greece (περὶ τῶν ἐν Ἑλλάδι γενομένων).2. On the ancestors of those who had taken part in the war against Troy.3. A catalogue of nations and towns (ἐθνῶν κατάλογος καὶ πόλεων), which is probably the same work as the one quoted by Stephanus of Byzantium (s. v. ὑπερβόρεοι) under the simple title of περὶ ἐθνῶν.

Besides these, a περίπλους also is mentioned as the work of Damastes by Agathemerus (vol. i. p. 2, ed. Hudson), who states, that Damastes copied from Hecataeus.

All these works are lost, with the exception of a few insignificant fragments. Eratosthenes made great use of them, for which he is censured by Strabo (i. p.47, xiii. p. 583, xiv. p. 684), who set little value upon the opinions of Damastes, and charges him with ignorance and credulity. From Dionysius of Halicarnassus (A. R. 1.72) we learn that Damastes spoke of the foundation of Rome.

Further Information

Comp. V. Max. 8.13, Ext. 6; Plut. Camill. 19; Dionys. Jud. de Thuc. p. 818; Plin. H. N. Elench. libb. iv. v. vi. vii. and 7.48; Avienus Ruf. de Ora Marit.; Sturz. Fragm. Hellanici, p. 14, &c.; Ukert, Untersuchung. über die Geographie des Hecataeus und Damastes, Weimar, 1814, p. 26.)

Another person of this name is Damastes, the brother of Democritus the philosopher. (Suid. s. v. Δνμόκριτος; D. L. 9.39.)

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