Hermippos of Be ̄rutos (105 – 165 CE)
Born a slave in an inland Be ̄rutos (Souda E-3045) but eventually freed, studied under
P B. Hermippos was a grammarian and mathematician whose titles include
Interpreting Dreams (five books), On the Number Seven, and About Slaves Eminent in Learning. Only
fragments survive (FHG 3.35–36, 51–52), not always securely assignable to our Hermippos
(cf. H S).
OCD3 692 (#3), (anonymous).
GLIM
Hermippos (of Smurna?) (250 – 200 BCE)
It seems likely that references to Hermippos, whether he is called “Kallimakhean,” “Peri-
patetic” or “of Smurna,” all refer to one and the same person. He was mainly known for
his biographies of philosophers and statesmen. His biographies were epitomized late in the
2nd c. BCE and remained popular down to the 3rd c. CE. They contained many picturesque
anecdotes, but also lists of books and pupils; he is one of D L’ main
sources and is often referred to when Diogene ̄s is describing a philosopher’s death. Hermippos
is not more nor less reliable than other ancient biographers. He is also said to have written a
Phainomena, of which little survives.
Ed.: FGrHist 1026; SH 485 – 490.
J. Bollansée, Hermippos of Smyrna and his Biographical Writings, A Reappraisal = Studia Hellenistica 35
(1999).
Jørgen MejerHermodo ̄ros of Alexandria (ca 300 – 340 CE)
P’ pupil and dedicatee of the seventh book of the Mathematical Collection (7.pr.).
Jones (1986) 379–380; Netz (1997) #25.
GLIM
Hermodo ̄ros of Surakousai (365 – 325 BCE)
Wrote and promulgated in Sicily the biography of his mentor P (frr.1–5 I-P: C,
ad Att. 13.21.4; D L 2.106, 3.6; Souda Lambda-661), important studies of
Plato’s ideas about matter (frr. 7 – 8 I-P: S, in Phys. 1.9 = CAG 9 [1882] 247–248,
256 – 257), and a book On Mathematics (peri mathe ̄mato ̄n) of which one fragment survives: fr. 6
I-P: D.L. 1.2.
Ed.: M. Isnardi Parente, Senocrate – Ermodoro Frammenti (1982) 157–160, 261–263, 437–444.
BNP 6 (2005) 231 (#2), K-H. Stanzel.
PTK and GLIMHERMIPPOS OF BE ̄RU TO S