PHYLARCHUS

A Greek historian, born probably at Naucratis in Egypt about 210 B.C., lived long at Sicyon, afterwards in Athens; author of a great historical work in 28 books, dealing with the fifty years from the invasion of the Peloponnesus by Pyrrhus to the death of Cleomenes, king of Sparta (272-221). His enthusiastic admiration of that monarch appears to be the cause of the severe judgment passed on Phylarchus by Polybius [ii 56], who represents the prejudiced Achaean view. His style was lively and attractive, but unduly sensational. His work was much used by Trogus Pompeius and by Plutarch [in his lives of Cleomenes and Aratus]. Only a few fragments remain.