Dēmētrius

1. Demetrius of Phalērum (c.350–c.283 BC), Athenian statesman and philosopher. He was pro-Macedonian and favoured Cassander's cause. When most of the Greek states including Athens surrendered to Cassander in 318, the latter made Demetrius governor of Athens, where he ruled in an enlightened manner for ten years. He went into exile when the Macedonian Demetrius Poliorcetes took Athens in 307, and later joined the Egyptian court of Ptolemy I Soter at Alexandria. He had studied at the Peripatetic school of philosophy in Athens as the pupil of Theophrastus, and it is probable that he advised Soter about the foundation of the Alexandrian Library and possibly about the Museum too. He is thus partly responsible for their being organized in the Peripatetic fashion and spirit, which accounts for the nature and trend of much of the intellectual life of Alexandria. After Ptolemy II Philadelphus became sole ruler in 283 BC Demetrius was exiled to Upper Egypt where he died. He was an outstanding orator and the author of many scholarly works of which only fragments survive.

2. Demetrius Poliorcētēs, Macedonian general, famous for his unsuccessful siege of Rhodes in 305–304 BC, commemorated by the Colossus of Rhodes.

3. Greek author of a treatise ‘On Style’ (Peri hermeneiās), traditionally said to be Demetrius of Phalerum (see above), but the style and contents suggest a date at least a century later, and the work perhaps belongs to the first century BC. The author analyses style (charactēr) under four headings (rather than the more usual three; compare ORATOR): plain (ischnos), grand (megaloprepēs), elegant (glaphyros), and forceful (deinos); the last category is a novelty in this kind of criticism. He also gives an account of style in letter-writing, a literary genre usually ignored by other ancient critics.

Demetrius, a tragedy planned and partly written by Schiller in 1804-5. Its completion was prevented by his death. The plot is drawn from Russian history in the time of Boris Godunov. Demetrius, a servant of unknown origin in an aristocratic Polish household, is revealed as Prince Demetrius (Dmitri), the heir to the Russian throne who, it was believed had been killed by Boris. Demetrius wins over the Polish Diet and undertakes with Polish support an invasion of Russia, in which Boris is killed. He learns meanwhile that he is not after all the true Demetrius, but an unwitting impostor. He refuses to turn from his course, however, and is murdered by nobles in revolt.

A scenario and many notes and sketches survive, together with sections of the play fully worked in verse. The most important of these are a first act in which Demetrius appears before the Polish Diet, and a scene for the second act, in which Marfa, the mother of the murdered prince Dmitri, learns of the supposed Demetrius, disbelieves his claim, but nevertheless determines to support him in order to be avenged upon Boris. There are also fragments of an earlier first act, in which Demetrius is identified.

Goethe thought of completing the play after Schiller's death. Hebbel attempted the task for the centenary of Schiller's birth, but abandoned the plan. He subsequently wrote his own Demetrius, a tragedy in verse which likewise remained a fragment, though he completed four acts before his death in 1863. His different treatment of the subject affects mainly the portrayal of Marfa and Demetrius's reaction to his discovery that he is an impostor, which impels him to renounce the crown. Schiller intended a tragedy of will and power, Hebbel one of conscience. Completed versions by F. G. Kühne and H. Laube were published in 1859 and 1869 respectively.

1 Silversmith of Ephesus who stirred up a riot against Paul.

2 Disciple commended in Third John.