Herodes Atticus (Ἡρώδης ὁ Ἀττικός), also known by his Roman name, Lucius Vibullius Hipparchus Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes Marathonios (ca. 101-177) was a Greek rhetorician, notable as a proponent of Philostratus' Second Sophistic, a pseudo-revival of classical Greek culture .
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Ancestry
He was born in Marathon in Attica to a distinguished, and fabulously wealthy family; His grandfather Hipparchus (born AD 40) was estimated to have a fortune of 100 000 000 sesterces[1] (and was the richest man in the Greek World at the time)[2]. The emperor Domitian took it away and possibly had him murdered. His father, Atticus (born AD 65), lived modestly until the accession of Nerva in AD96, when he 'found' part of the treasure hidden in the ruins of a house. With this he purchased a seat in the Senate (AD 98) and served as governor of Judea. Herodes claimed linial descent from Cimon, Miltiades Theseus and Cecrops as well as Eacus and Jupiter.
Biography
Herodes (Juvenal, Satire III), received an education in rhetoric and philosophy. Hadrian appointed him prefect of the free cities in Asia in 125. Herodes returned to Athens, became famous as a teacher, and was elected archon. In 140 Antoninus Pius brought him to Rome to educate Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, and as a mark of favor appointed him consul, in 143. Herodes was married to Aspasia Annia Regilla. In addition to his literary work, Herodes funded a number of public projects:
- a stadium - Athens
- Odeon - Athens
- a theater at Corinth
- a stadium at Delphi
- baths at Thermopylae
- aqueduct at Canusium in Italy
- aqueduct at Alexandria Troas
- an exedra (or nymphaeum) at Olympia
- various benefactions to the peoples of Thessaly, Epirus Euboea, Boeotia and Peloponnesus
He was known for a number of pederastic loves. His affection for his pupil Polydeukion created a scandal, not because of the gender or age of his beloved but because of its intensity, which was considered immoderate and unseemly. Upon the boy's untimely death he had a number of statues and monuments commissioned to honor his beloved, in imitation of the actions of Hadrian upon the death of Antinous. Lucian preserves a tradition that the cynic philosopher Demonax came to him claiming to have a letter from the dead Polydeukes. Rejoicing, Herodes asked what it said, and Demonax answered that the boy was sad that Herodes had not gone looking for him.[1][3]
See also
Notes
References
- Gibbon: A History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
- Papalas, A. J., "Herodes Atticus: An essey on education in the Antonine age", History of Education Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1981), pp. 171-188.
| Preceded by Lucius Cuspius Pactumeius Rufinus and Lucius Statius Quadratus |
Consul of the Roman Empire with Antoninus Pius 143 |
Succeeded by Lollianus and Titus Statilius Maximus |
