A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ἡγησιάναξ,), an historian of Alexandria, is said by Athenaeus to have been the real author of the work called Troica, which went under the name of Cephalon, or Cephalion (Athen. 9.393; comp. Strab. xiii. p.594.) Plutarch also (Par. Min. 23) mentions an historian of the name of Hegesianax or Hesianax, and refers to the third book of a work of his, called Libyca ; and again there was a poet, named Agesianax, of whom Plutarch (de Fac. in Orb. Lun. 2, 3) has preserved some verses of much merit, descriptive of the moon. Vossius thinks it doubtful whether these two should be identified with one another, or either or both of them with the Alexandrian. Lastly, Stephanus of Byzantium (s. v. Τρωιάς) makes mention of Hegesianax of Troas, a grammarian, and the author of a treatise on the style of Democritus, and of another on poetic expressions ; and Vossius supposes him to have been the same with the author of the Troica, who may have been a citizen, though not a native of Alexandria. This conjecture appears to be borne out by the language of Athenaeus (iv. p. 155b. Ἡγησιάνακτα τὸν Ἀλεξανδρέα ἀπο Τρωάδος), from whom we also learn that the Hegesianax in question was contemporary with Antiochus the Great, and stood high in favour at his court. In this case, is there any reason against our identifying him with the historical person mentioned above ? In another passage (iii. p. 80d.), Athenaeus tells us, on the authority of Demetrius of Scepsis, that Hegesianax being at first a poor man, followed the profession of an actor, and for eighteen years abstained from figs lest he should spoil his voice. (Comp. Voss. de Hist. Graec. p. 447, ed. Westermann.)

[E.E]