A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

23. RHODIUS, was, according to Suidas and his Greek anonymous biographers, the son of Silleus or Illeus and Rhode, and born at Alexandria (comp. Strab. xiv. p.655) in the phyle Ptolemais, whereas Athenaeus (vii. p. 283) and Aelian (Ael. NA 15.23) describe him as a native or, at least, as a citizen of Naucratis. He appears to have been born in the first half of the reign of Ptolemy Euergetes, that is, about B. C. 235, and his most active period falls in the reign of Ptolemy Philopator (B. C. 221-204) and of Ptolemy Epiphanes. (B. C. 204-181.) In his youth he was instructed by Callimachus, but afterwards we find a bitter enmity existing between them. The cause of this hatred has been explained by various suppositions; the most probable of which seems to be, that Apollonius, in his love of the simplicity of the ancient poets of Greece and in his endeavour to imitate them, offended Callimachus, or perhaps even expressed contempt for his poetry. The love of Apollonius for the ancient epic poetry was indeed so great, and had such fascinations for him, that even when a youth (ἔφηβος) he began himself an epic poem on the expedition of the Argonauts. When at last the work was completed, he read it in public at Alexandria, but it did not meet with the approbation of the audience. The cause of this may in part have been the imperfect character of the poem itself, which was only a youthful attempt; but it was more especially owing to the intrigues of the other Alexandrine poets, and above all of Callimachus, for Apollonius was in some degree opposed to the taste which then prevailed at Alexandria in regard to poetry. Apollonius was deeply hurt at this failure, and it is not improbable that the bitter epigram on Callimachus which is still extant (Anthol. Graec. 11.275) was written at that time. Callimachus in return wrote an invective-poem called " Ibis," against Apollonius, of the nature of which we may form some idea from Ovid's imitation of it in a poem of the same name. Callimachus, moreover, expressed his enmity in other poems also, and in his hymn to Apollo there occur several hostile allusions to Apollonius, especially in 5.105. Disheartened by these circumstances Apollonius left Alexandria and went to Rhodes, which was then one of the great seats of Greek literature and learning. Here he revised his poem, and read it to the Rhodians, who received it with great approbation. At the same time he delivered lectures on rhetoric, and his reputation soon rose to such a height, that the Rhodians honoured him with their franchise and other distinctions. Apollomius now regarded himself as a Rhodian, and the surname Rhodius has at all times been the name by which he has been distinguished from other persons of the same name. Notwithstanding these distinctions, however, he afterwards returned to Alexandria, but it is unknown whether he did so of his own accord, or in consequence of an invitation. He is said to have now read his revised poem to the Alexandrines, who were so delighted with it, that he at once rose to the highest degree of fame and popularity. According to Suidas, Apollonius succeeded Eratosthenes as chief librarian of the museum at Alexandria, in the reign of Ptolemy Epiphanes, about B. C. 194. Further particulars about his life are not mentioned, but it is probable that he held his office in the museum until his death, and one of his biographers states, that he was buried in the same tomb with Callimachus.