Herodes Atticus

Lucius Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes Vibullius Hipparchus, short Herodes Atticus (* 101, † 177 in Marathon ) was a Greco-Roman orator, politician and patron.

He was educated in Athens and held there as well as in the Roman Empire many offices. Under Emperor Antoninus Pius, with whom he was related, was Herod Atticus 143 consul. He was also one of the teachers of the future Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.

From his father Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes Herod inherited a large fortune, which allegedly came from a treasure trove. He used it for numerous foundations, particularly buildings at different locations. In Athens, he built the Panathenaic stadium in marble and built the Odeion on the south slope of the Acropolis in Athens, which is named after him ( Odeon of Herodes Atticus ). In Olympia he had a water line and a magnificent fountain ( Nymphaeum ) build. Other buildings he erected in Corinth, Delphi, Alexandria Troas in Asia Minor and other cities.

Herod's private life was not happy; numerous family members and friends died young, including his wife Annia Regilla and his son Regillus, which led to an indictment against Herod. Even with the city of Athens came Herod in a lawsuit, which was held in front of Marcus Aurelius. Herod A son was Tiberius Claudius Atticus Bradua.

Herod worked as a teacher of rhetoric in Athens; belonged to his disciples Aulus Gellius and Aelius Aristides. He participated in the teaching of the philosopher Taurus, a Platonist, who ran a private school of philosophy and whose students also Gellius counted. Herod was a typical representative of the " Second Sophistic ". As such, introduced him to the writer Philostratus in his biography collection represents, which is the main source of Herod's life. Numerous inscriptions that mention his name are obtained.

Herod was closely associated with the beginning of Panhellenions. He was the first Archon of Panhellenes and Agonothet ( judges ) of the Panhellenia of the year 137

Herod had a villa near Marathon in Attica. Sculptures from this villa are exhibited alongside other archaeological finds in a museum in Marathon. Another great villa he owned in Arcadia at today's Eva Dolianon near the Monastery of Loukous. This villa was discovered in the late 90s of the 20th century and is still not fully explored.

Works

From Herod's works only a speech "On State " ( Peri politeias ) is obtained fragmentary except for a few poems; their authenticity is disputed. Philostratus writes him out of the speeches and letters, diaries and an anthology.