Callinicus (sophist)

Callinicus (

He came from a local eminent family from either

During the reign of Gallienus and his father Valerian, Callinicus taught Rhetoric in Athens, Greece. Later Callinicus accepted the patronage of Syrian Queen of Palmyra, Zenobia (reigned before 258–273). Callinicus moved and lived in Zenobia's court first in Palmyra and later in Alexandria, Egypt.

In 273, Callinicus was executed with Zenobia's chief counselor and Greek sophist, Cassius Longinus on the orders of Roman Emperor Aurelian in the city, Callinicum on the Euphrates (modern Raqqa, Syria). Zenobia had revolted against the Roman Empire and Aurelian had defeated and ended Zenobia's revolt from Rome in Emesa (modern Homs, Syria).

Callinicus had written various literacy pieces including a number of speeches and Encomiums. His works include:

• To Lupus, On Bad Taste on Rhetoric
• Prosphonetikon to Gallienus, a salute addressed to the emperor
• To Cleopatra, On the History of Alexandria, 10 books written on the history of Alexandria who were dedicated to a “Cleopatra”, who was most probably Zenobia. She claims to be a descendant of
  Cleopatra VII
  of Egypt
• On the Renewal of Rome
• Against the Philosophical Sects

References

Sources

• Palmyra and Its Empire: Zenobia's Revolt against Rome - by Richard Stoneman
• Aurelian and the Third Century - by Alaric Watson
• www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0582.html
• www.leeds.ac.uk/classics/heath/sudabits.html
• https://web.archive.org/web/20091027102056/http://geocities.com/christopherjbennett/ptolemies/selene_ii.htm