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Authors of Antiquity: A Chronological Reference

How these authors shaped what we know of the ancient past.

Primary Authors
AuthorDatesWritten InLanguages Under Whose RuleKey WorksNotesOcc.
SanchoniathoSakunyatan / Phoenician: Sknyt ~1200–1000 BC? Phoenician Phoenician Phoenician city-states; possibly under Hiram I of Tyre Phoenician History Known only through fragments preserved by Philo of Byblos, themselves preserved by Eusebius. Based work on temple inscriptions.
HerodotusHerodotus of Halicarnassus c.484–425 BC Greek Greek; traveled through Egypt, Persia, Babylonia, Scythia Greek city-states; Athens under Pericles; later Thurii colony The Histories (9 books) First systematic prose historian. Covered the Greco-Persian Wars and ethnography of Egypt, Persia, Babylonia, and Scythia. Named 'Father of History' by Cicero. Manetho wrote Against Herodotus in direct response.
ManethoManethon of Sebennytus fl. 290–260 BC Greek Egyptian (native); Greek; read hieroglyphics Ptolemy I Soter & Ptolemy II Philadelphus Aegyptiaca; The Sacred Book; Against Herodotus; On Festivals; On Ancient Ritual; Book of Sothis Priest at Heliopolis. Original texts lost; preserved via Josephus, Eusebius, and Africanus. Aegyptiaca commissioned by Ptolemy I Soter. Described the Hyksos as a Semitic people who invaded and ruled northern Egypt c.1650–1550 BC before being expelled. Assisted in establishing the cult of Serapis.
BerossusBel-reushunu (Akkadian) c.330–250 BC Greek (Koine) Akkadian (native); Greek; read cuneiform Seleucid Empire — Antiochus I Soter Babyloniaca (3 books) Priest of Bel-Marduk, Babylon. Original texts lost; preserved via Josephus, Eusebius, and Syncellus. Wrote Babylonian national history in Greek under Seleucid patronage.
EratosthenesEratosthenes of Cyrene 276–194 BC Greek Greek Ptolemy III Euergetes & successive Ptolemaic rulers Geographica; On the Measurement of the Earth; Chronographies Chief librarian at the Library of Alexandria.
Philo of ByblosHerennius Philon c.64–141 AD Greek Greek; Phoenician Roman Empire — Trajan & Hadrian Phoenician History (translation of Sanchoniatho); On the Acquisition of Books; On Cities and Famous Men; Life of Hadrian Primary preserver of Sanchoniatho. Roman citizen. His fragments preserved by Eusebius.
Philo of AlexandriaPhilo Judaeus c.20 BC–50 AD Greek Greek; Hebrew; Aramaic Roman Empire — Augustus through Claudius; Jewish community of Alexandria On the Creation; Allegorical Interpretation; On Abraham; Embassy to Gaius Jewish philosopher who bridged Greek and Hebrew thought. Led Jewish delegation to Emperor Caligula. Influenced early Christian theology. Wrote extensively on the divine Logos as God's intermediary.
Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul)Saul of Tarsus / Paulus 5–64/65 AD Greek Greek; Aramaic; Hebrew; Latin Roman Empire — Claudius (during missions); Nero (executed under) Romans; 1 & 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Philippians; 1 Thessalonians; Philemon; Ephesians; Colossians; 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Timothy; Titus; Hebrews (disputed) Roman citizen. 7 epistles undisputed by scholars; 6 disputed. His letters predate the Gospels. ✔
JosephusYosef bar Matityahu / Titus Flavius Josephus 37–100 AD Greek Aramaic (native); Greek; Hebrew; Latin Roman Empire — Vespasian, Titus, Domitian (Flavian dynasty) The Jewish War; Antiquities of the Jews; Against Apion; Life of Flavius Josephus Roman client historian. In Against Apion, argued the Hyksos were ancestors of the Israelites, using Manetho's account as his primary source. ✔
Pliny the ElderGaius Plinius Secundus 23–79 AD Latin Latin; Greek Roman Empire — Vespasian Natural History (37 books) Roman author and naturalist. Encyclopedic survey of the ancient world. Died observing the eruption of Vesuvius.
TacitusPublius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus 56–120 AD Latin Latin; Greek Roman Empire — Domitian through Trajan Annals; Histories; Agricola; Germania Roman senator and historian. One of few non-Christian sources referencing Jesus and Nero's persecution of Christians.
Julius AfricanusSextus Iulius Africanus c.160–240 AD Greek Greek; Latin; Hebrew Roman Empire — Septimius Severus through Alexander Severus Chronographiai (5 vols); Kestoi/Embroideries (24 vols) First Christian universal history. Eusebius built his Chronicle directly on Africanus's work. Divided history into 7 epochal weeks. Calculated Creation at 5,499 BC.
TertullianQuintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus 155–220 AD Latin Latin; Greek Roman Empire — Marcus Aurelius through Caracalla Apologeticus; Against Marcion; On the Soul Early Christian theologian. Born Carthage.
OrigenOrigen Adamantius 184–253 AD Greek Greek; Hebrew; Latin Roman Empire — Septimius Severus through Decius On First Principles; Against Celsus; Hexapla; Commentaries on Scripture Early Christian theologian based in Alexandria and Caesarea. Student of Clement of Alexandria. Later declared heretical by the Church.
Clement of AlexandriaTitus Flavius Clemens c.150–215 AD Greek Greek; likely Latin Roman Empire — Commodus through Septimius Severus Protrepticus; Paedagogus; Stromata; Quis Dives Salvetur Head of the Catechetical School, Alexandria. Teacher of Origen. Drew extensively on Josephus. Attempted to reconcile Greek philosophy with Christianity. Removed from Roman saints list due to unorthodox writings.
PolycarpPolycarp of Smyrna c.69–155 AD Greek Greek Roman Empire — Trajan through Antoninus Pius Epistle to the Philippians; Martyrdom of Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna. Disciple of John the Apostle. Teacher of Irenaeus. Martyred c.155 AD. Documented by Eusebius.
EusebiusEusebius of Caesarea 260–340 AD Greek Greek Roman Empire — Diocletian through Constantine I Ecclesiastical History; Chronicle; Preparation for the Gospel; Life of Constantine Bishop of Caesarea. Preserved many otherwise lost texts including fragments of Manetho, Berossus, and Africanus. Built his Chronicle on Julius Africanus. Present at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). Jerome later translated and extended his Chronicle into Latin. ✔
JeromeEusebius Sophronius Hieronymus 347–420 AD Latin; Greek; Hebrew Latin; Greek; Hebrew; Aramaic Roman Empire — Theodosius I through Honorius Vulgate Bible; De Viris Illustribus; Letters; Commentaries Translated and extended Eusebius's Chronicle into Latin, transmitting it to the Western Church. Translated the Bible into Latin (Vulgate), which became the standard Catholic Bible for centuries. ✔
Augustine of HippoAurelius Augustinus Hipponensis 354–430 AD Latin Latin; Greek; some Punic Roman Empire (late) — Theodosius I through Honorius; Bishop of Hippo Confessions; City of God; On Christian Doctrine; On the Trinity Most influential theologian of Western Christianity. Shaped the doctrines of original sin and just war.
George SyncellusGeorgios Synkellos fl. 8th c.; d. after 810 AD Greek Greek Byzantine Empire — Constantine VI; Patriarch Tarasius of Constantinople Ekloge Chronographias (Extract of Chronography) Key preserver of fragments from Manetho, Julius Africanus, and Eusebius. His chronicle runs from Creation to Diocletian.
Ole Borch (Borrichius)Olaus Borrichius / Ole Borch 1626–1690 AD Latin; Danish Latin; Danish; likely Greek Kingdom of Denmark — Frederick III & Christian V De ortu et progressu chemiae; Hermetis Aegyptiorum et chemicorum sapientia Royal physician to the Danish court. Defender of Hermeticism. Danish polyhistor.
Other Authors of Interest

Additional figures relevant to the study of antiquity and the transmission of knowledge.

AuthorDatesWritten InLanguages Under Whose RuleKey WorksNotesOcc.
HipparchusHipparchus of Nicaea c.190–120 BC Greek Greek Kingdom of Bithynia; Roman Republic (later career) Commentary on Aratus and Eudoxus (only surviving work); Star Catalogue; Trigonometry tables (all others lost) Greatest ancient astronomical observer. Founder of trigonometry. Discovered precession of the equinoxes. Drew on Babylonian astronomical sources. Works known through Strabo, Pliny the Elder, and Claudius Ptolemy.
CiceroMarcus Tullius Cicero 106–43 BC Latin Latin; Greek Roman Republic — Julius Caesar, Pompey, Marc Antony era; Roman Senator and Consul De Re Publica; De Legibus; De Natura Deorum; De Officiis; De Oratore; Orations (In Verrem, In Catilinam); Letters Greatest orator of the Roman Republic. First to render Greek philosophy comprehensively into Latin. Named Herodotus 'Father of History'. Reproduced theories of Stoic and Epicurean philosophers whose own works did not survive.
StraboStrabo of Amaseia c.64 BC–24 AD Greek Greek; likely Latin Roman Empire — Augustus & Tiberius Geographica (17 books); Historical Memoirs (43 books, lost) Born Amaseia, Pontus (modern Turkey). Roman citizen. Traveled widely. Geographica is the only extant work covering all peoples and countries known to Greeks and Romans under Augustus. Critiqued Eratosthenes and Hipparchus.
PlutarchLucius Mestrius Plutarchus c.46–120 AD Greek (Koine) Greek; Latin Roman Empire — Nero through Hadrian; priest at Temple of Apollo, Delphi; appointed procurator of Achaea by Hadrian Parallel Lives (46 biographies); Moralia (70+ essays); On the E at Delphi; On Oracles at Delphi; On the Obsolescence of Oracles Middle Platonist philosopher and biographer. Priest at Delphi. Paired Greek and Roman figures in biography. 227 works catalogued, many lost. Criticized Herodotus.
Claudius PtolemyClaudius Ptolemaeus c.100–170 AD Greek (Koine) Greek; Latin Roman Empire — Hadrian through Marcus Aurelius; based in Alexandria Almagest (13 books); Tetrabiblos; Geographia; Harmonics; Optics Mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer and music theorist. Built heavily on the work of Hipparchus. Geocentric model dominated astronomy for 1,500 years.