CALLISTIIENES, a Greek historian and philoso pher, was a native of Olynthus, a disciple and kinsman of Aristotle, and the contemporary of Alexander the Great, whom he accompanied in his expedition to the East. The austere temper, however, and unbending republican spirit of Callisthenes, were but little calcu lated for the meridian of a court, and upon several oc casions he gave great offence to the haughty monarch, by the freedom of his reflections. At length, when Alexander came to the impious and frantic resolution of assuming divine honours, Callisthenes not only refused to join the other courtiers in flattering his pretensions, but addressed to him a spirited remonstrance on the subject ; which, however, had no other effect, than to draw upon himself the implacable hatred of the prince. The conspiracy of Hermolatts furnished a prgtext for implicating him in a charge of treason ; though it does not appear that he was otherwise guilty, than by having uttered bold and unguarded expressions against tyranny.
lie was, however, arrested along with the other persons accused ; and though it would seem that his fate was for some time suspended, it is certain that he suffered death in consequence of the charge which had been brought against him.
Callistheues wrote a History of the Actions of Alexan der, which is cited by several of the ancient authors. Many other works, which are not now extant, arc also ascribed to hip, or to some other writer of the same name. Among these are a History of Greece, compre bending 30 years from the peace of Antalcidas; a His tory of the Trojan war ; a Periplus ; Persies ; Mace donics; Th•acics; and M-tamorphoses. Sec Aerial), Ex ped. Alex. Piutarch, in Alex. Quintus Curtius. Voss. Hist. Give. Fain-. Bib. Urge (z)