A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

2. Of ATHENS, was one of the most celebrated of the early logographers. Suidas speaks of a Pherecydes of Leros, who was likewise an historian or logographer; but Vossius (De Hist. Graecis, p. 24, ed. Westermann) has shown that this Pherecydes is the same as the Athenian. He is called a Lerian from having been born in the island of Leros, and an Athenian from having spent the greater part of his life at Athens; and it may be added that, except in Suidas, we find mention of only one historical writer of this name. (Comp. D. L. 1.119; Strab. x. p.487b.) Suidas also makes a mistake in calling him older than his namesake of Syros; but the exact time at which he lived is differently stated. Suidas places him before the 75th Olympiad, B. C. 480 ; but Eusebius and the Chronicon Paschale in the 81st Olympiad, B. C. 456, and Isidorus (Orig. 1.41) in the 80th Olympiad. There can be no doubt that he lived in the former half of the fifth century B. C., and was a contemporary of Hellanicus and Herodotus. He is mentioned by Lucian as one of the instances of longevity, and is said to have attained the age of 85 years. (Lucian, de Macrob. 22, where he is erroneously called ὁ Σύριος instead of ὁ Λέριος.)