Potamo of Mytilene

Potamo or Potamon (Greek: Ποτάμων ὁ Μυτιληναῖος; c. 75 BC – c. 15 AD) of Mytilene in Lesbos,[1] son of Lesbonax the rhetorician, was himself a rhetorician in the time of the Roman emperor Tiberius, whose favour he enjoyed.[2] He is mentioned by Plutarch as an authority regarding Alexander the Great.[3] It is probably he whom Lucian states to have attained the age of ninety.[4]

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.

Notes

1. Strabo, xiii.
2. Suda π 2127, Potamon
3. Plutarch, Alex. 61
4. Lucian, Macrob. § 23

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Potamon of Mytilene". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. III. p. 513.