Discourses 61-80. Fragments. Letters (Loeb Classical Library 385)

The man with the golden mouth. Dio Cocceianus Chrysostomus (AD ca. 40-ca. 120), of Prusa in Bithynia, Asia Minor, inherited with his brothers large properties and debts from his generous father Pasicrates.He became a skilled rhetorician hostile to philosophers.But in the course of his travels he went to Rome in Vespasian’s reign (69-79) and was converted to Stoicism.Strongly critical of the emperor Domitian (81-96) he was about 82 banned by him from Italy and Bithynia and wandered in poverty, especially in lands north of the Aegean, as far as the Danube and the primitive Getae.In 97 he spoke publicly to Greeks assembled at Olympia, was welcomed at Rome by emperor Nerva (96-98), and returned to Prusa.Arriving again at Rome on an embassy of thanks about 98-99 he became a firm friend of emperor Trajan.In 102 he traveled to Alexandria and elsewhere. Involved in a lawsuit about plans to beautify Prusa at his own expense, he stated his case before the governor of Bithynia, Pliny the Younger,