Polemon of Laodicea

Polemon Anthony, the sophist and rhetorician in the 2nd century of Laodicea in Caria, was one of the most flourishing in Smyrna, visited from all parts of the Hellenic world of rhetoric before and is considered a representative of the so -called " Second Sophistic ". He died under Marcus Aurelius at the age of about 56 years by voluntary starvation in grief a nervous disorder, by which he found himself impeded in the exercise of his art.

Polemon enjoyed a most extraordinary reputation among his contemporaries and was overwhelmed by the emperors, among whom he lived, Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius, with awards. He was especially true as the master of improvised speech. Have received from his writings two declamations ( " Logoi epitaphioi [ Λογοι επιταφιοι ] " funeral oration on heroes of Marathon ), which were published by Orelli ( Leipz. 1819) and Hinck (ibid. 1873).