2. Of Cyrene, an Alexandrian writer of history and geography, the friend or disciple of Callimachus, flourished under Ptolemy II. Philadelphus, about B. C. 249 (Ath. viii. p. 331d.). We have quotations from the following works of his: Περὶ παραδόξων ποταμῶν (Ath. l.c.), περὶ τῶν ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ πόλεων (Ath. vii. p. 297f.); περὶ νήσων (Harpocr. s. v. Στρύμη ; Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. 3.1242; Schol. as Lycophr. 447, 586), of which work a history of Cyprus formed a part (Clem. Alex. Protrept. p. 17; Siebelis, Phanodemi Frag. p. 70); τὰ ἠπειρωτικά (Harpoer. s. v. Βούχετα) ; περὶ εὑρημάτων (Clem. Al. Strom. i. p. 133. s. 308; Plin. Nat. 7.56. s. 57); and an historical work, the title of which is not specified. (Plut. Lyc. 23.)
To the above citations several others might be added, but all the extant titles of the writings of Philostephanus have been mentioned. Some writers identify him with the comic poet; whether rightly or not can hardly be determined (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. ii . p. 150, n., vol. iii. p. 314; Vessius, de Hist. Graec. p. 129, ed. Westermann; Clinton, F. H. s. a. 249.)