I. NICOLAS of Damascus, a Peripatetick Philosopher, Poet, and Historian, who took the Surname of Damascus, because he was a Native of this City. He liv’d in the Time of Augustus, a little before the Birth of Jesus Christ, and had a great Share in the Favour of this Emperor, and also of Herod the Great, King of the Jews, who employed him in several Affairs of Consequence, of which he always acquitted himself very honourably. Josephus1 often quotes his History; and in several Places he accuses him of disguising the Truth, in favour of Herod2, to whom he had devoted his Pen. He wrote a general History, and Josephus quotes something from it, which he had said of Antiochus Epiphanes. Suidas reckon’d only eighty Books of the History of Nicolas of Damascus. Josephus3 cites the 1244, and Athenæus reckons as far as 144. He composed several other Works. Henry of Valois publish’d at Paris in the Year 1634, in Greek and Latin, the Collection made by Constantine Porphyrogenetus, of the several Works of Nicolas of Damascus. These Collections belong’d to Mr. de Peiresch, who had procured them to be bought in the Isle of Cyprus.
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