Callisthenes

Callisthenes OF OLYNTHUS, a kinsman and pupil of Aristotle, devoted himself to the study of natural and political history, and accompanied Alexander the Great in his expedition to India. His bold outspoken ways, and his especial displeasure at the adoption of oriental habits and the intended assumption of divine honours, brought him under the king's displeasure, and led to his being put to death on a pretended charge of treason, 328 B.C. Only a few fragments of his historic works remain, and these are not valuable. The History of Alexander ascribed to him is evidently a production of the 2d or 3d century A.D., and much more romance than history. See ALEXANDER; and Westermann, De Callisthene (Leip. 1838-42).