CALLISTHENES OF OLYNTHUS

(c. 360327 BC), ancient Greek historian. Callisthenes was appointed to attend Alexander the Great as historian of his Asiatic expedition on the recommendation of his uncle and former tutor, Aristotle. Callisthenes offended Alexander by censuring him for the adoption of certain Oriental customs. He was subsequently accused of being privy to a conspiracy against Alexander and was thrown into prison, where he died. His death was commemorated by his friend Theophrastus in Callisthenes or a Treatise on Grief. Callisthenes wrote a history of Greece from the peace of Antalcidas (386) to the Phocian War (355); a history of the Phocian War; an account of the Asiatic expedition; and other works, all of which have perished. It is known that he alluded to the story of Alexander's divine birth and may have been the first to do so.