Theocritus
3 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Theocritus. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
the-ok'ri-tus, a Greek bucolic poet of the third century B. C. He was born either at Syracuse or at Cos. Thirty-one pastoral and idyllic poems are ascribed to Theocritus, although the authorship of several is doubtful. Many of these idyls are dramatic in form and consist of conversations between herdsmen and shepherds. Virgil imitated Theocritus in his Eclogues. A bit of translation from his Thalysia and a word from Clarence Stedman will serve to give an idea of this poet: The red cicalas ceaselessly amid The shady boughs were chirping; from afar The tree-frog in the briars chanted shrill; The crest-larks and the thistle-finches sang, The turtledove was plaining; tawny bees Were hovering round the fountain. All things near Smelt of the ripened summer, all things smelt Of fruit-time. Pears were rolling at our feet, And apples for the taking; to the ground The plum-tree staggered, burdened with its fruit; And we, meanwhile, brushed from a wine-jar's mouth The pitch four years unbroken. Theocritus created his own school, with no models except those obtainable from the popular mimes and catches of his own region; just as Burns, availing himself of the simple Scottish ballads, lifted the poetry of Scotland to an eminent and winsome individuality. See Syracuse ; Eclogue ; Idyl; Pastoral Theodoric the Great (454-526), king of the Ostrogoths. He received his education at Constantinople while held as a hostage by the Emperor Leo. After succeeding his father as a king of the Ostrogoths he made war on Odoacer, ruler of Italy, and, having subdued him, established the seat of his power at Ravenna. He quartered his soldiers in Italy, giving them one-third of the agricultural land. He was a ruler of ability. He maintained peace throughout a vast domain and governed the Italians in accordance with their own, that is to say, Roman law. Much to his credit, he gave strict orders that the monuments of art at Rome be protected. He even set aside certain revenues to be devoted to their restoration. He was himself a Christian, holding to the Arian faith, but he lived on terms of amity with his Roman Catholic neighbors. He deserves mention in history, not only as a just and powerful ruler, but as the greatest name among the Goths. It was his boast that "the only regret of the Italian people should be that the Goths had not come at an earlier period." His palace and tomb are still standing at Ravenna. There is a tradition that Theodoric was so illiterate that, instead of using a pen to sign documents, he had a gold plate through which letters were cut. This being placed on a piece of paper, the king traced his signature with a quill. See Goths ; Ravenna
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a Greek poet; a native of Syracuse and son of Praxagoras and Philina. Suidas, however, says that some made him the son of Simichus or Simachidas, and that he was a native of Cos and only a metoikos at Syracuse. This statement vanishes on investigation. Theocritus seems to have been intimately associated with the poet Aratus, author of the "Phænomena." The court of the Ptolemies was the mart of intellect then; and it is known that Theocritus at least once in his life visited that great center of poetry and philosophy. More than one of his idylls may have been written there. His 10th "Idyll" was unquestionably written at Syracuse, after the accession of Hiero (270 b. c.). The inference from all that can be gleaned from the poet himself as to his period, is that he flourished 284-262 b. c. It is at least certain that Theocritus was in Syracuse during the reign of Hiero II., and it is extremely probable that his 16th "Idyll" was written after that monarch's alliance with the Romans, 263 b. c. How he spent his later years is wholly unknown. The genuineness of some of the idylls is disputed. This could hardly be otherwise. But the chief glory of Theocritus lies in his being the founder of a fresh and fertile school of poetry. and Bion Moschus, a little later, achieved distinction in the same walk. Vergil drawing from the same sweet well enriched Roman literature with poems of marvelous beauty, however inferior to those of his prototype. His idylls might have been written yesterday. In character they are mimetic and dramatic. Innocence, simplicity, fidelity-the characteristics of the early Sicilian race-constitute his objective theme. The "Adoniazusæ," a masterpiece of depiction of female character, is characterized
1000 Classical Characters (1900)
A Greek poet who lived at Syracuse in Sicily B. c. 282. He distinguished himself by his poetical compositions, of which some are extant. Theodosius, Flavius. A Roman emperor surnamed Magnus from the greatness of his exploits. The first years of his reign were marked by conquests over the Barbarians. In his private character Theodosius was an example of temperance. He died in his sixtieth year, A. D. 395, after a reign of sixteen years. 2026 Editor's Note: While this entry notes his residence in Syracuse, Theocritus is most significant as the creator of Ancient Greek pastoral poetry. His work established the bucolic tradition that would later influence poets like Virgil and Milton. (Ed: BR 2026-07-21)