however, possibly be identified with a homonymous author whom Giannini lists among the
non-specialist paradoxographical writers.
RE S.1 (1903) 133 (#14), F. Knaack; Schlereth (1931) 105; FGrHist 830 F1; A. Giannini, “Studi
sulla paradossografia greca I,” Rend. Ist. Lomb. Sc. Lett. 97 (1963) 247–266 at 265; De Lazzer
(2003) 71.
Eugenio Amato
Aristoboulos of Kassandreia (334 – 301 BCE)
Serving in Alexander’s army, he had no known military role, but his technical skills were
such that Alexander commissioned him to restore Cyrus the Great’s desecrated tomb at
Pasargadae. Alexander may have commissioned him to restore the water systems around
Babylo ̄n. Late in his long life he wrote an account of Alexander’s expedition, which does
not survive; but A used him as a source, along with Ptolemy. He gave a largely eye-
witness description of the geography, flora and fauna, and ethnography of the regions
through which the expedition passed. His observations on Mesopotamian and Central
Asian rivers were particularly detailed. He discussed the cause of the Indus’ flooding, which
he ascribed, along with that of the Nile, to summer rains. He described the Hindu Kush,
which he called the Caucasus. His remarks on the climate of Afghanistan and Pakistan were
accurate for the regions through which he actually traveled; but he maintained erroneously
that the Indian plains are desert. He also discussed the Indus crocodiles, its abundant fish,
and numerous venomous serpents of India. Furthermore, he described in detail the banyan
tree, and gave the first known Greek account of the banana and the cultivation of rice. He
mentioned various customs he heard about at Taxila such as the exposure of the dead, the
throwing of the elderly to dogs, the sale of daughters, and the sati. His observations were
often more sober than those of O and N: Aristoboulos gave more
modest figures for the size of serpents in India, and for the extent of the shade of the
banyan tree, and contradicted One ̄sikritos’ assertion that there are hippopotami in the
Indus river. He gave a graphic account of Alexander’s trek through the desert of Gedrosia.
Aristoboulos’ account of the lands of Mesopotamia, Iran, and India was a reasonable first-
hand report; but it was unable to displace the tradition of eastern wonders begun by
S, H, and K.
Ed.: FGrHist 139.
Robinson (1953) 1.205–243; Pearson (1960) 150–187; P. Brunt, “Notes on Aristobulus of Cassandria,”
CQ 26 (1974) 65–69; Pédech (1984) 331–406.
Philip Kaplan
Aristode ̄mos (250 BCE – 175 CE)
Perhaps the grammarian from Nusa (active ca 90 – 40 BCE), S’s teacher, or his
younger relative (ca 80 – 30 BCE), teacher of Pompey’s sons. Cited by A A
13.86 (p. 713 Cornarius), probably from C P’s work On Animals, on the
domesticated weasel’s ability to sniff out medicinal roots. The name is very frequent
through the 1st c. CE, quite rare in the 2nd/3rd c. CE, and unattested thereafter: LGPN.
BNP 1 (2002) 1114–1115 (#7), F. Montanari (the grammarian).
PTK
ARISTOBOULOS OF KASSANDREIA