About Autolycus of Athens
Born 450 BC. Autolycus of Athens was a Greek athlete.
Autolycus (; fl. 5th century BC), son of Lykon, was a young Athenian athlete of singular beauty and the lover of Callias. It is in honour of a victory gained by him in the pentathlon at the Panathenaic Games that Callias gives the banquet for him described by Xenophon in his Symposium.
After the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian Wars at the hands of Lysander, Autolycus defeated the Spartan-appointed governor Callibius by "tripping up his heels and throwing him to the ground". Callibius in turn hit Autolycus with his staff upon which Callibius was scolded by Lysander who told him that he "didn't know how to govern free men". Puppets of Lysander and the Spartans killed Autolycus soon after to appease Callibius.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Autolycus of Athens?
5th-century BC Athenian athlete
When was Autolycus of Athens born?
Autolycus of Athens was born in 450 BC in Athens.
When did Autolycus of Athens die?
Autolycus of Athens died in Athens.
What was Autolycus of Athens's occupation?
Autolycus of Athens was an athlete.
What nationality was Autolycus of Athens?
Autolycus of Athens was Greek.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Autolycus of Athens
· DBpedia: Autolycus of Athens
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Autolycus of Athens. https://biography.guide/autolycus-of-athens/
MLA: "Autolycus of Athens." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/autolycus-of-athens/.
Chicago: "Autolycus of Athens." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/autolycus-of-athens/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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