Alexander Polyhistor · Lablypedia

In a nutshell

Lucius Cornelius Alexander Polyhistor (Ancient Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Πολυΐστωρ; flourished in the first half of the 1st century BC; also called Alexander of Miletus) was a Greek scholar who was enslaved by the Romans during the Mithridatic War and taken to Rome as a tutor. After his release, he continued to live in Italy as a Roman citizen. He was so productive as a writer that he earned the surname Polyhistor (very learned). The majority of his writings are now lost, but the fragments that remain shed valuable light on antiquarian and eastern Mediterranean subjects. Among his works were historical and geographical accounts of nearly all the countries of the ancient world, and the book Upon the Jews (Ancient Greek: Περὶ Ἰουδαίων) which excerpted many works which might otherwise be unknown.

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Through Rome and Italy

Life

The Suda is the main source of information about Alexander's life. He was born in Miletus, Asia Minor, between 110 and 105 BC and educated by Crates of Mallus in Pergamon, before being captured in the Mithridatic War and brought to Rome as a slave. He was owned by a Cornelius Lentulus, and became his tutor. Alexander was subsequently freed, and given Roman citizenship by Sulla in 81 BC. He taught Hyginus, and according to the Suda wrote books "beyond number". Sometime after 40 BC he died in a fire at Laurentum.

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