Apollodorus of Athens (scholar)
Apollodorus of Athens was a notable scholar from ancient Greece, who initially pursued his studies in Athens before relocating to Alexandria, Egypt. There, he studied under Aristarchus of Samothrace, a prominent figure associated with the renowned library in Alexandria. His academic journey was interrupted around 145 BCE when he, along with other scholars, was expelled from Egypt. Following this, Apollodorus may have resided in Pergamum before eventually returning to Athens. Although his extensive body of work has unfortunately been lost over time, he is particularly recognized for his seminal piece, the "Chronica," which detailed Greek history from the fall of Troy to approximately 145/144 BCE. This work not only provided chronological dates for various historical events but also included insights into the lives of philosophers and poets, all presented in verse form to aid memorization. The "Chronica" established Apollodorus as a pivotal figure in Greek chronology, and his influence was such that later works, including the "Library," were mistakenly attributed to him, reflecting his lasting impact on the study of Greek mythology and history.
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Apollodorus of Athens (scholar)
Related civilization: Hellenistic Greece
Major role/position: Scholar, historian
Life
Apollodorus (uh-pahl-uh-DOHR-uhs) of Athens began his studies in his native city but eventually moved to Alexandria, Egypt, where he studied with Aristarchus of Samothrace, head of Alexandria’s great library. Apollodorus and other scholars were expelled from Egypt in about 145 b.c.e.; Apollodorus may have gone to Pergamum but later returned to Athens.
Apollodorus was a prolific scholar with diverse interests. All of his works have been lost, but they included treatises on the Greek gods, Athenian comedy, and Homer. He was best known for his Chronica (after 120 b.c.e.; “chronicles”), an account of Greek history from the fall of Troy (1184 b.c.e.) to 145/144 b.c.e. Apollodorus later added a chapter covering the period to 120 b.c.e. The Chronica provided dates for many historical events, but Apollodorus also touched on the careers of philosophers and poets. Curiously, Apollodorus wrote the Chronica in verse, perhaps to make it easier to memorize.
Influence
The Chronica of Apollodorus quickly became the standard work on Greek chronology in the ancient world. Apollodorus’s reputation as a scholar was so great that works were falsely attributed to him, including the Library, an encyclopedic account of Greek mythology that still exists.
Bibliography
Habicht, Christian. Athens from Alexander to Antony. Translated by Deborah Lucas Schneider. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1999.
Mosshammer, Alden A. The Chronicle of Eusebius and the Greek Chronographic Tradition. Lewisburg, Pa.: Bucknell University Press, 1979.