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Zenobius

2nd-century Greek sophist and author

RhetoricianParemiographer
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About Zenobius

Zenobius was a Roman rhetorician and paremiographer.

Zenobius was a Greek sophist, who taught rhetoric at Rome during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (AD 117–138).

Biography He was the author of a collection of proverbs in three books, still extant in an abridged form, compiled, according to the Suda, from Didymus of Alexandria and "The Tarrhaean" (Lucillus of Tarrha, a polis in Crete). In the work, the proverbs are alphabetised and grouped by hundreds. This collection was first printed by Filippo Giunti in Florence, 1497.

Zenobius is also said to have been the author of a Greek translation of the Latin prose author Sallust, which has been lost, and of a birthday poem on the emperor Hadrian.

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Important facts

Occupation
Rhetorician, paremiographer
Nationality
Also known as
Zenodotus

Frequently asked questions

Who was Zenobius?

2nd-century Greek sophist and author

What was Zenobius's occupation?

Zenobius was a rhetorician and paremiographer.

What nationality was Zenobius?

Zenobius was Roman.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Zenobius

· Wikidata: Q189699

· DBpedia: Zenobius

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Zenobius. https://biography.guide/zenobius/

MLA: "Zenobius." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/zenobius/.

Chicago: "Zenobius." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/zenobius/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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