CHAPTER FOUR
DEMETRIUS OF PHALERUM, LIBRARIAN IN THE LIBRARY OF PTOLEMY I
W I F L I H
Who was the first librarian in the Library at Alexandria? According to Aristeas, Demetrius of Phalerum was in charge of the library under Ptolemy II.1 But there are others who argue that Zenodotus of Ephesus first held this post under Ptolemy II. The question is important for the discussion here. Since Demetrius was considerably older than Zenodotus (their relative ages are discussed below), if Zenodotus was the first librarian under Ptolemy II, Demetrius is unlikely to have occupied this post. Aristeas is then probably incorrect when he states that Demetrius was employed by Ptolemy II. On the other hand, if Demetrius was the first librarian in Alexandria, he was probably appointed by Ptolemy I and then continued to work for Ptolemy II. Aristeas could then be historically correct. It would also follow from such timing that the library was founded by Ptolemy I. This chapter will examine the evidence in relation to the known historical facts concerning Demetrius and Zenodotus, and the tex- tual evidence which is said to promote the claim of Zenodotus. It will be shown that the historical facts support the claim of Demetrius, and the textual evidence not only fails to support Zenodotus, but actually promotes Demetrius in this role.
The Ages of Demetrius and Zenodotus Compared Both Demetrius of Phalerum and Zenodotus of Ephesus lived in Alexandria under the rule of Ptolemy I. Demetrius of Phalerum arrived in Alexandria after the death of Kassander in 298/7 BCE, soon after Ptolemy I officially became king of Egypt on 12th January 304 BCE, and lived in Alexandria at least until the death of Ptolemy,
1 LetAris.9, katastaye‹w §p‹ t∞w toË basil°vw biblioyÆkhw ... 83 twenty-three years later on 23rd November 283 BCE.2 Similarly, it is known that Zenodotus studied in Alexandria with the scholar Philitas, who was employed as a tutor by Ptolemy I, a role which eventually Zenodotus assumed.3 But although they were contempo- raries in Alexandria at the time when the Library must have been built (whether under Ptolemy I or Ptolemy II), there was a consid- erable disparity in their ages. The age of Demetrius in Alexandria can be deduced from the fact that he ‘entered politics’ in Athens when Harpalus fled from Alexander to Athens in 324 BCE.4 The phrase ‘entered politics’ prob- ably refers to the start of a public career.5 Since thirty was the min- imum age required in Athens for such a role, Demetrius was about thirty years old in 324 BCE.6 Demetrius was thus born by 354 BCE.7 This date of birth is compatible with events in his life. Demetrius was therefore about thirty-nine years old in 315 BCE, when he be- came tyrant of Athens, under the patronage of Kassander.8 According to several sources, Demetrius ruled in Athens for ten years.9 After his expulsion in 308/7 BCE,10 he fled to Thebes (in Greece), where
2 D.L.V.78. Dates for Ptolemy I according to Grzybek (1990), p. 171. 3 The Life, cited Westermann (1945), p. 369. 4 For Demetrius in public life in Athens, D.L.V.75, êrjasyai dÉ aÈtÚn t∞w polite¤aw . . .; for Harpalus’ flight, see Heckel (1992), p. 219. 5 The simplicity of Diogenes’ account means that it is unlikely that ‘entering politics’ refers to the involvement of Demetrius in a private prosecution against Harpalus, which could have occurred at a younger age, e.g., at the age of 21, the orator Demosthenes was involved in a private prosecution against Aphobus and Onetor. 6 Rhodes (1985), p. 510. There are no specific references to a lower age. But Athenian citizens could attend the assembly perhaps from the age of 18, and cer- tainly from 20, Rhodes, p. 703. 7 Wehrli (1949), p. 49 and Ferguson (1911), p. 39, n. 1 give 350 BCE; neither justifies rounding up the date. Some support for the lower date is given by Rhodes (1981), p. 401, who notes that ‘men under thirty may not have been excluded in the ‘immediate’ constitution of 411’, citing Ath.Pol.31.ii and Men.Sam.15 where Moschion claims to have served as a phylarch while young. 8 D.S.18.74.3; Pausan.1.25.6; Athen.XII 542e; D.S.19.68.3; Polyaenus, Strat. IV 7,6; Plut.Dem.8.3; D.S.20.45.1–2; Strabo 9.1.20; Polybius 12.13.8–11; see Ferguson (1911), p. 40. 9 D.L.V.75; D.S.20.45.4; Strabo 9.1.20. 10 D.S.20.45.4; Plut., Dem.9.2; Plut., Mor. 69c; see Ferguson (1911), p. 124. D.L.V.78, Strabo 9.1.20, Syncellus §521, Mosshammer (1984), p. 331.6–7 and Cicero, De Fin. V.19.53 link the flight of Demetrius to Egypt rather than Thebes; Syncell. §521, p. 331.6 refers to Demetrius in Egypt with no reference to Kassander or Thebes.