Publius Anteius Antiochus, or Antiochus of Aegae ( grc, Ἀντίοχος), was a

sophist A sophist ( el, σοφιστής, sophistes) was a teacher in ancient Greece in the fifth and fourth centuries BC. Sophists specialized in one or more subject areas, such as philosophy, rhetoric, music, athletics, and mathematics. They taught ' ...

—or, as he claimed to be, a Cynic philosopher—of

ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 B ...

, from the

Cilicia Cilicia (); el, Κιλικία, ''Kilikía''; Middle Persian: ''klkyʾy'' (''Klikiyā''); Parthian: ''kylkyʾ'' (''Kilikiyā''); tr, Kilikya). is a geographical region in southern Anatolia in Turkey, extending inland from the northeastern coa ...

n port city of Aegeae (modern

Yumurtalık Yumurtalık (meaning "egg nest") is a resort town and a district in the Adana Province of Turkey. It was formerly called Aegeae, Ayas, Lyeys or Laiazzo. It is a Mediterranean port at a distance of about from Adana city. Yumurtalık's population do ...

). He lived around the 2nd century AD, during the reigns of the Roman emperors

Septimius Severus Lucius Septimius Severus (; 11 April 145 – 4 February 211) was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna (present-day Al-Khums, Libya) in the Roman province of Africa (Roman province), Africa. As a young man he advanced thro ...

and

Caracalla Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (born Lucius Septimius Bassianus, 4 April 188 – 8 April 217), better known by his nickname "Caracalla" () was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. He was a member of the Severan dynasty, the elder son of Emperor S ...

, and is known from a number of inscriptions that indicate him to have been a student of

Philostratus Philostratus or Lucius Flavius Philostratus (; grc-gre, Φιλόστρατος ; c. 170 – 247/250 AD), called "the Athenian", was a Greek sophist of the Roman imperial period. His father was a minor sophist of the same name. He was born probab ...

, as well as a Syrian named Dardanus and a certain Milesian named Dionysius. Antiochus belonged to a distinguished family, some members of which were afterwards raised to the consulship at Rome. He took no part in the political affairs of his native city, but with his large property, which was increased by the liberality of the emperors, he was enabled to support and relieve his fellow citizens whenever it was needed. He is said to have spent his nights in the temple of the Roman god of sleep

Asclepius Asclepius (; grc-gre, Ἀσκληπιός ''Asklēpiós'' ; la, Aesculapius) is a hero and god of medicine in ancient Religion in ancient Greece, Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology. He is the son of Apollo and Coronis (lover of ...

, partly on account of the dreams and the communications with the god in them, and partly on account of the conversation of other persons who likewise spent their nights there without being able to sleep. During the

Parthian war of Caracalla The Parthian war of Caracalla was an unsuccessful campaign by the Roman Empire under Caracalla against the Parthian Empire in 216–17 AD. It was the climax of a four-year period, starting in 213, when Caracalla pursued a lengthy campaign in cen ...

he was at first of some service to the Roman army by his Cynic mode of life, but afterwards he deserted to the Parthians under

Tiridates II of Armenia Tiridates II ( hy, Տրդատ Բ, flourished second half of the 2nd century - died 252), known in Armenian sources as Khosrov, was an Armenian Parthian Prince who served as a Roman Client King of Armenia. Tiridates II was the son and heir of the ...

. Antiochus was one of the most distinguished rhetoricians of his time. He used to speak extempore, and his declamations and orations are said to have been distinguished for their pathos, their richness in thought, and the precision of their style, which had nothing of the pomp and bombast of other rhetoricians. He also acquired some reputation as a writer. Philostratus mentions a historical work of his (ἱστορία) which is praised for the elegance of its style, but the subject of this history is unknown. The grammarian

Phrynichus Arabius Phrynichus Arabius (; grc-gre, Φρύνιχος Ἀράβιος, lit. 'Phrynichus “the Arab”') or Phrynichus of Bithynia ( grc-gre, Φρύνιχος ὁ Βιθυνός) was a grammarian of the Greek language who flourished in 2nd century Bith ...

mentions a writer of this name who produced a work called ''

Agora The agora (; grc, ἀγορά, romanized: ', meaning "market" in Modern Greek) was a central public space in ancient Greek city-states. It is the best representation of a city-state's response to accommodate the social and political order of t ...

'' (Ἀγορά), who may be the same author. Antiochus was at some point in his career honored by the city of

Argos Argos most often refers to: * Argos, Peloponnese, a city in Argolis, Greece ** Ancient Argos, the ancient city * Argos (retailer), a catalogue retailer operating in the United Kingdom and Ireland Argos or ARGOS may also refer to: Businesses ...

for claiming kinship between Argos and Aegeae.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anteius Antiochus, Publius Roman-era Sophists 2nd-century Romans 3rd-century Romans 2nd-century Greek people 3rd-century Greek people 2nd-century historians 3rd-century historians People from Yumurtalık People from ancient Cilicia