A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ἰάμβλιχος).

1. A Syrian who lived in the time of the emperor Trajan. He

was educated at Babylon, and did not become acquainted with the Greek language till a late period of his life. After having lived at Babylon for a number of years, he was taken prisoner and sold as a slave to a Syrian, who, however, appears to have set him free again. He is said to have acquired such a perfect knowledge of Greek, that he even distinguished himself as a rhetorician. (Suidas, s.c. Ἰάμβλιχος; Schol. ad Phot. Bibl. Cod. 94, p. 73, ed. Bekker.)