A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ἀριστείδης), surnamed THEODORUS, one of the most celebrated Greek rhetoricians of the second century after Christ, was the son of Eudaemon, a priest of Zeus, and born at Adriani in Mysia, according to some in A. D. 129, and according to others in A. D. 117. He shewed extraordinary talents even in his early youth, and devoted himself with an almost unparalleled zeal to the study of rhetoric, which appeared to him the worthiest occupation of a man, and along with it he cultivated poetry as an amusement. Besides the rhetorician Herodes Atticus, whom he heard at Athens, he also received instructions from Aristocles at Pergamus, from Polemon at Smyrna, and from the grammarian Alexander of Cottyaeum. (Philostr. Vit. Sopsh. 2.9; Suidas, s. v. Ἀριστείδης Aristeid. Orat. fun. in Alex. p. 80, ed. Jebb.) After being sufficiently prepared for his profession, he travelled for some time, and visited various places in Asia, Africa, especially Egypt, Greece, and Italy. The fame of his talents and acquirements, which preceded him everywhere, was so great, that monuments were erected to his honour in several towns which he had honoured with his presence. (Aristeid. Orat. Aegypt. ii. p. 331, &c.; Philostr. Vit. Soph. 2.9.1.) Shortly before his return, and while yet in Italy, he was attacked by an illness which lasted for thirteen years. He had from his childhood been of a very weakly constitution, but neither this nor his protracted illness prevented his prosecuting his studies, for he was well at intervals; and in his "Sermones Sacri" (ἱεροὶ λόγοι, a sort of diary of his illness and his recovery), he relates that he was frequently encouraged by visions in his dreams to cultivate rhetoric to the exclusion of all other studies. During this period and afterwards, he resided at Smyrna, whither he had gone on account of its baths, but he made occasional excursions into the country, to Pergamus, Phocaea, and other towns. (Serm. Sacr. ii. p. 304, iv. p. 324, &c.) He had great influence with the emperor M. Aurelius, whose acquaintance he had formed in Ionia, and when in A. D. 178, Smyrna was to a great extent destroyed by an earthquake, Aristeides represented the deplorable condition of the city and its inhabitants in such vivid colours to the emperor that he was moved to tears, and generously assisted the Smyrnaeans in rebuilding their town. The Smyrnaeans shewed their gratitude to Aristeides by erecting to him a brazen statue in their agora, and by calling him the founder of their town. (Philostr. Vit. Solp. 2.9.2; Aristeid. Epist. ad M. Aurel. et Commod. i. p. 512.) Various other honours and distinctions were offered to him at Smyrna, but he refused them, and accepted only the office of priest of Asclepius, which he held until his death, about A. D. 180, according to some, at the age of 60, and according to others of 70. The circumstance of his living for so many years at Smyrna, and enjoying such great honours there, is probably the reason that in an epigram still extant (Anthol. Planud. p. 376) he is regarded as a native of Smyrna. The memory of Aristeides was honoured in several ancient towns by statues. (Liban. Epist. 1551.) One of these representing the rhetorician in a sitting attitude, was discovered in the 16th century, and is at present in the Vatican museum. The museum of Verona contains an inscription to his honour. (Visconti, Iconograph. Grecq. i. plate xxxi. p. 373, &c.; Bartoli, Dissert. Sul. Museo Veronese, Verona, 1745, 4to.)

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