The Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek tradition and its many heirs

(Ron) #1

P ⇒ I P


Philostephanos of Kure ̄ne ̄ (260 – 210 BCE)


In all probability a student of K, who followed his mentor in entertaining
antiquarian, mythological and paradoxographical interests. He mainly stayed in Alexandria,
where he may have been court poet of Ptolemy IV Philopato ̄r. His titles – including On Cities
of Asia, On Cities of Europe, On Islands, On Wonderful Rivers, On Springs, On Inventions, Hypomne-
mata – may not all denote separate works, but rather chapters within broader treatises.
Philostephanos was used at least indirectly as a source by M, E
(Schol. Lykophr. 447), P, Athe ̄naios Deipn. 8 (331d), P, and Aulus Gellius 9.4.2,
among others.


Ed.: PGR 21 – 23; SH 691 – 693.
RE 18.3 (1949) 1137–1166 (§2, 1141), K. Ziegler; Giannini (1964) 110–111; Fraser (1972) 1.522–4,
777 – 8, 2.752–778, 1085; OCD3 1171, J.S. Rusten; BNP 10 (2007) 506–509 (I.B.1, 508), O. Wenskus;
BNP 11 (2007) 112–113 (#1), S. Fornaro.
Jan Bollansée, Karen Haegemans, and Guido Schepens


Philostorgios of Borissos (ca 390 – ca 439 CE)


Well-educated ecclesiastical historian, born ca 368 at Borissos in Cappadocia Secunda. At the
age of 20, he moved to Constantinople, where he spent much of his life, and became an
adherent of his compatriot Eunomios. He traveled to Palestine and Syria. His Ecclesiastical
History to 425, in 12 books, each beginning with a letter of his name, continued E
 C’s account. Only fragments survive, primarily in the Artemii Passio of John of
Rhodes (before 668), and in an epitome ̄ by Pho ̄tios (Bibl. 40), undoubtedly because of its
extreme Arianism. Geographical digressions (concerning Daphne ̄ near Antioch, the source
of the River Jordan etc.) are based on Philostorgios’ own observations. He also wrote an
enko ̄mion Eunomiou, a refutation of the philosopher P  T, and a vita of the
martyr and saint Lucian of Antioch (d. ca 362).


Ed.: J. Bidez and F. Winkelmann, Philostorgius: Kirchengeschichte (1972).
RE 20.1 (1941) 119–122 (#3), G. Geutz; F. Winkelmann, “Kirchengeschichtswerke,” in Berliner Byzan-
tinistische Arbeiten 55 (1990) 211; ODB 1661, B. Baldwin; OCD3 1171, A.M. Nobbs; BNP 11 (2007)
113 – 114, C. Markschies.
Andreas Kuelzer


Philostratos of Le ̄mnos, the eldest (180 – 200 CE?)


Souda Phi-422 attributes a (lost) Lithogno ̄mikón (or -kós) to the eldest Philostratos, father of
Flauius Philostratos. Part of its content (scientific, according to Münscher) probably survives
in his son’s Life of Apollo ̄nios of Tuana (2.4; 3.7–8.46) wherein numerous stones with magical
properties are discussed (cf. A  T, P).


K. Münscher, “Die Philostrate,” Philologus S.10.4 (1907) 543–546; RE 20.1 (1941) 135 (#9), F. Solmsen;
Halleux and Schamp (1985) –.
Eugenio Amato


PHILOSTEPHANOS OF KURE ̄NE ̄
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