Dinon of Colophon (Δίνων ὁ Κολοφώνιος) Life Dinon was a Greek historian of the 4th century BCE. He is known primarily as the father of the historian Cleitarchus, who chronicled Alexander the Great [1]. No further biographical details survive.

Works His sole known work is the Persica (Περσικά), a history of Persia in at least three books spanning from legendary times to the reign of Artaxerxes III Ochus (c. 358–338 BCE) [1][2]. The text is lost and survives only in fragments preserved by later authors.

Significance Dinon served as a major source for later historians writing on Persia. Plutarch relied on his Persica for the Life of Artaxerxes, and it likely informed other writers, including his son [1][2]. Alongside Ctesias of Cnidus, Dinon represents a key strand of Greek historiography focused on the Persian Empire, with his work generally considered more reliable [1][3]. The fragments provide valuable, though indirect, information on Persian customs and court history.

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dinon 2. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-2252 3. Perseus Digital Library, Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Ddinon-bio-1