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Potamo of Mytilene

50 BC – AD 15

Greek rhetorician and writer (c. 655 BC–c. 25)

RhetoricianHistorian
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About Potamo of Mytilene

Lived 50 BC – AD 15 (aged 63–64). Potamo of Mytilene was a rhetorician and historian.

Potamo or Potamon (; around 65 BC–around AD 25) ) of Mytilene in Lesbos, son of Lesbonax the rhetorician, was himself a rhetorician in the time of the Roman emperor Tiberius, whose favour he enjoyed. He is mentioned by Plutarch as an authority regarding Alexander the Great. It is probably he whom Lucian states to have attained the age of ninety.

When his son was killed, according to Seneca the Elder, he delivered a speech on the suasoria relating to the Spartans deliberating whether to flee Thermopylae wherein he exhorted the Spartans against flight, in contrast to his rival Lesbocles, His city sent him on embassies to Rome in 45 and 25 BC.

Works The Suda informs us that, in addition to his work On Alexander of Macedon (Περὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ Μακεδόνος), he wrote several other works, namely: Annals of the Samians (Ὅρους Σαμίων) Encomium of Brutus (Βρούτου ἐγκώμιον) Encomium of Caesar (Καίσαρος ἐγκώμιον) On the Perfect Orator (Περὶ τελείου ῥήτορος)

To these should perhaps be added On the Different, quoted by Ammonius Grammaticus.

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Important facts

Born
50 BC, Mytilene
Birth century
Died
AD 15
Occupation
Rhetorician, historian
Also known as
Potamon of Mytilene

People in Potamo of Mytilene's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Potamo of Mytilene's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Potamo of Mytilene?

Greek rhetorician and writer (c. 655 BC–c. 25)

When was Potamo of Mytilene born?

Potamo of Mytilene was born in 50 BC in Mytilene.

When did Potamo of Mytilene die?

Potamo of Mytilene died in AD 15.

What was Potamo of Mytilene's occupation?

Potamo of Mytilene was a rhetorician and historian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Potamo of Mytilene

· Wikidata: Q7234624

· DBpedia: Potamo of Mytilene

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Potamo of Mytilene. https://biography.guide/potamo-of-mytilene/

MLA: "Potamo of Mytilene." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/potamo-of-mytilene/.

Chicago: "Potamo of Mytilene." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/potamo-of-mytilene/.

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