About Apollonius
Apollonius was a historian.
Apollonius was a freedman of Publius Licinius Crassus in ancient Rome in the 1st century BCE.
Apollonius afterwards became a useful friend of Cicero's, and served in the army of Julius Caesar in the Alexandrine war, and also followed him into Spain. He was a man of great diligence and learning, and anxious to write a history of the exploits of Caesar. For this reason Cicero gave him a very flattering letter of recommendation to Caesar.
Apollonius is also believed to have written a biography of Crassus. Since he was manumitted as a term of Publius's will, he is by Roman custom likely to have taken the name Publius Licinius Apollonius as a freedman. The highly laudatory account of Publius's death found in Plutarch suggests that Apollonius's biography was a source.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Apollonius?
or Publius Licinius Apollonius, secretary of Publius Licinius Crassus
What was Apollonius's occupation?
Apollonius was a historian.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Apollonius (freedman)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Apollonius. https://biography.guide/apollonius-historian/
MLA: "Apollonius." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/apollonius-historian/.
Chicago: "Apollonius." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/apollonius-historian/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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