Boutarchs

Boutarchs, also known as Boutarchides, were a group of ancient Greek historians who lived during the 4th century BCE. They are notable for their work on the history of the Persian Empire, particularly the Achaemenid dynasty. The most famous of the Boutarchs is Boutarches, who wrote a history of the Persian Empire in 12 books. His work, known as the "History of the Persian Empire," was a significant source of information for later historians, including Herodotus and Xenophon.

The Boutarchs are believed to have been native to the region of Lydia, which is now part of modern-day Turkey. They are thought to have been part of the Persian court and to have had access to a wide range of sources, including Persian royal archives and inscriptions. Their work is notable for its detailed and accurate descriptions of the Persian Empire, including its geography, politics, and military organization.

The Boutarchs' work is also notable for its critical perspective on the Persian Empire. While they acknowledge the achievements of the Achaemenid dynasty, they also point out its weaknesses and flaws, and they offer a balanced assessment of the empire's role in the history of the ancient world.

The Boutarchs' work has been lost to history, and our knowledge of them comes primarily from the writings of later historians, such as Plutarch and Diodorus Siculus. Despite this, their contributions to the study of the Persian Empire and the ancient world remain significant, and they continue to be studied and admired by historians today.