About Dexippus
Lived 210 – 278 (aged 67–68). Dexippus was a Roman historian, military personnel and politician.
Publius Herennius Dexippus (; c. 210–273 AD), Greek historian, statesman and general, was an hereditary priest of the Eleusinian family of the Kerykes, and held the offices of archon basileus and eponymous in Athens.
Life When the Heruli overran Greece and captured Athens (267), Dexippus showed great personal courage and revived the spirit of patriotism among his fellow countrymen. A statue was set up in his honour, the base of which, with an inscription recording his services, has been preserved. It is remarkable that the inscription is silent as to his military achievements.
Works Photius (cod. 82) mentions three historical works by Dexippus, of which considerable fragments remain:
Τὰ μετ᾽ Ἀλέξανδρον (The Events after Alexander), apparently an epitome of a work by Arrian Σκυθικά (Scythica), a history of the wars of Rome with the Goths (called Scythians in archaizing language) in the 3rd century Χρονικὴ ἱστορία (Chronike Historia) in twelve books, probably covering a thousand years to the reign of the emperor Claudius Gothicus (270) between 238 and 270, but Paschoud has demonstrated that the author of the Historia Augusta sometimes attributes material to Dexippus falsely and so that evidence must be used with caution.
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Important facts
People in Dexippus's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Dexippus's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Dexippus?
Greek historian, statesman and general (c. 210–273)
When was Dexippus born?
Dexippus was born in 210 in Athens.
When did Dexippus die?
Dexippus died in 278 in Athens.
What was Dexippus's occupation?
Dexippus was a historian, military personnel and politician.
What nationality was Dexippus?
Dexippus was Roman.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Dexippus. https://biography.guide/dexippus/
MLA: "Dexippus." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/dexippus/.
Chicago: "Dexippus." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/dexippus/.
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