SOURCE: “Life” in Bion of Borysthenes, TEXTgruppen, 1976, pp. 3-20.

In the following excerpt, Kindstrand narrates Bion's life from birth to death and explains the popularity of his lectures. He also includes an extensive list of relevant works.

Bion,¹ usually known as the Borysthenite² in the ancient tradition, was born in the Greek city of Olbia,³ situated on the northern coast of the Black Sea, on the right bank of the river Hypanis and not very far from its confluence with the river Borysthenes.⁴ The inhabitants of Olbia and also their city were usually named by other Greeks from the latter river.⁵ Olbia was originally colonised from Miletus,⁶ being founded in 646/5 b.c.⁷ During the later part of the fourth century b.c., i.e. when Bion was born, the two cities renewed an agreement on isopolity.⁸ Olbia as a city was mainly Greek in character with different Greek...