About Aristo of Pella
Lived 100 – 160. Aristo of Pella was a writer and historian.
Ariston of Pella (; ; c. 100 – c. 160), was an apologist and chronicler, who is known only from a mention by Eusebius that "as Aristo relates" in connection with accounts of emperor Hadrian and Simon bar Kokhba. Aristo is Eusebius's source for Hadrian's permanent banishment of Jews from Jerusalem (4.6.3), renamed to Aelia Capitolina.
Eusebius supplies no biographical data, although some later readers have assumed that like many of Eusebius' sources he was possibly a Greek-speaking Christian.
A secondary mention by the Armenian chronicler Moses of Chorene is probably based on Eusebius, but expanded with the comments that he was secretary of "Ardasches", which were read, or misread, to suggest that Aristo was secretary of Mark, first Gentile bishop of Jerusalem. A mention in the Chronicon Paschale reproduces Eusebius.
His name was connected by Maximus the Confessor (7th century) to the Dialogue of Jason and Papiscus (c.140), although earlier generations either intentionally omitted or did not know the author of that text. This text was also cited by Jerome, leading to confusion in older sources that Jerome mentioned Aristo by name - which he did not. Thus, some scholars consider Maximus' attribution negligible, but many examinations of the dialogue readily accept Aristonian authorship.
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Important facts
People in Aristo of Pella's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Aristo of Pella's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Aristo of Pella?
2nd century Christian apologist and chronicler
When was Aristo of Pella born?
Aristo of Pella was born in 100 in Pella.
When did Aristo of Pella die?
Aristo of Pella died in 160 in Pella, Jordan.
What was Aristo of Pella's occupation?
Aristo of Pella was a writer and historian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Aristo of Pella. https://biography.guide/aristo-of-pella/
MLA: "Aristo of Pella." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/aristo-of-pella/.
Chicago: "Aristo of Pella." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/aristo-of-pella/.
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