Phylarchus

Phylarchus (Greek: Φύλαρχoς, Phylarkhos; fl. 3rd century BC) was a Greek historical writer whose works have been lost, but not before having been considerably used by other historians whose works have survived.

Life

Phylarchus was a contemporary of Aratus, in the 3rd century BC. His birthplace is doubtful. In the Suda¹ it is stated that three different cities are mentioned as his native place: Athens, Naucratis in Egypt, or Sicyon; Athenaeus calls him² an Athenian or Naucratian. Respecting the date of Phylarchus there is less uncertainty. Polybius ³ writes that Phylarchus was a contemporary of Aratus, and gave an account of the same events as the latter did in his history. Aratus died 213 BC, and his work ended at 220 BC, therefore placing Phylarchus at about 215 BC.

His influence

The credit of Phylarchus as an historian is vehemently attacked by Polybius³, who charges him with falsifying history through his partiality to Cleomenes III, king of Sparta, and his hatred against Aratus and the Achaeans. The accusation of Polybius is repeated by Plutarch⁴, but it comes with rather a bad grace from the latter writer, since there can be little doubt that his lives of Agis and Cleomenes are taken almost entirely from Phylarchus, to whom he is likewise indebted for the latter part of his life of Pyrrhus. The vivid and graphic style of Phylarchus was well suited to Plutarch's purpose. It has likewise been remarked that took from Phylarchus that portion of his work which treated of the same times as were contained in the history of Phylarchus. That Plutarch and Trogus borrowed almost the very words of Phylarchus, appears from a comparison of , xxviii. 4, with Plutarch's , 29.