Diogenianus


Diogenianus was a Greek grammarian from Heraclea in Pontus who flourished during the reign of Hadrian. He was the author of an alphabetical lexicon, chiefly of poetical words, abridged from the great lexicon of Pamphilus of Alexandria and other similar works. It was also known by the title Περιεργοπένητες. It formed the basis of the lexicon, or rather glossary, of Hesychius of Alexandria, which is described in the preface as a new edition of the work of Diogenianus. A collection of 776 proverbs under his name is still extant bearing the name Παροιμίαι δημώδεις ἐκ τῆς Διογενιανοῦ συναγωγῆς, probably an abridgment of the collection made by himself from his lexicon. Diogenianus was also the author of an "Anthology of epigrams about rivers, lakes, cliffs, mountains and mountain ridges", a list of all the towns in the world., and of a list of rivers
Erasmus attributed the origins of this Latin parable to Diogenianus — piscem natare doces.