A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ὀνησίκριτος), a Greek historical writer, who accompanied Alexander on his campaigns in Asia, and wrote a history of them, which is frequently cited by later authors. He is called by some authorities a native of Astypalaea, by others of Aegina (D. L. 6.75, 84; Arrian Ind. 18 Aelian, Ael. NA 16.39) : it was probably to this island origin that he was indebted for the skill in nautical matters which afterwards proved so advantageous to him. he must have been already advanced in years, as we are told that he had two sols grown up to manhood, wheu his attention was accidentally attracted to the philosophy of Diogenes the Cynic, of which he became an ardent votary, so as to have obtained a name of eminence among the disciples of that master. (Diog. Laert. l.c. ; Plut. Alex. 65.) We have no account of the circumstances which led him to accompany Alexander into Asia, nor does it appear in what capacity he attended on the conqueror; but during the expedition into India he was sent by the king hold a conference e with the Indian philosophers or Gylnosophists, the details of which have been transmitted to us from his own account of the interview. (Strab. xv. p.715; Plut. Alex. 65.) When Alexander constructed his fleet on the Hydaspes, he appointed Onesicritus to the important station of pilot of the king's ship, or chief pilot of the fleet (ἀρχικυβερνήτης), a post which he held not only during the descent of the Indus, but throughout the long and perilous voyage from the mouth of that river to the Persian gulf. In this capacity he discharged his duties so much to the satisfaction of Alexander that, on his arrival at Susa, he was rewarded by that monarch with a crown of gold, at the same time as Nearchus. (Arr. Anab. 6.2.6, 7.5.9, Ind. 18 Curt. 9.10.3, 10.1.10; Piut. Alex. 66, de Fort. Alex. p. 331f.) Yet Arrian blames him for want of judgment, and on one occasion expresly ascribes the safety of the fleet to the firmness of Nearchus in overlruling his advice. (Antih. 7.20, Ind. 32 We know nothing of his subsequent fortunes; but from an anecdote related by Plutarch it seems probable that he attached himself to Lysimachus, and it was perlihaps at the cturt of tllat monotach thlt he composed his historical work (Plut. Alex. 46).

though, on the other hand, a passage of Lucian (Quomodo hist. conscr. 100.40), might lead us to infer that this was at least commenced during the lifetime of Alexandor himself.

[E.H.B]