Epaphroditus

• a freedman of the Emperor Nero, Suet. Ner. 49; Tac. A. 15, 55.
• —Hence, Ĕpaphrŏdītĭānus, a um, adj., of Epaphroditus: horti, Front. Aquaed. 68.—
• • • 2 An eminent Christian of Philippi, Vulg. Phil. 2, 25; 4, 18.

(Ἐπαφρόδιτος).

1. A freedman of Caesar Octavianus; he was sent by Octavianus, together with C. Proculeius, to queen Cleopatra to prepare her for her fate. The two emissaries, however, made the queen their prisoner, and kept her in strict custody, that she might not make away with herself; but she nevertheless succeeded in deceiving her gaolers. (D. C. 51.11, 13.)

2. A freedman and favourite of the emperor Nero, who employed him as his secretary. During the conspiracy which put an end to Nero's rule, Epaphroditus accompanied his master in his flight, and when Nero attempted to kill himself, Epaphroditus assisted him. For this service, however, he had afterwards to pay with his own life, for Domitian first banished and afterwards ordered him to be put to death, because he had not exerted himself to save the life of Nero. The philosopher Epictetus was the freedman of this Epaphroditus ; but whether he is the same as the Epaphroditus to whom Josephus dedicated his " Jewish Antiquities," and on whom he pronounces in his preface a high eulogium for his love of literature and history, is very uncertain, and it is generally believed that Josephus is speaking of one Epaphroditus who lived in the reign of Trajan and was a freedman and procurator of this emperor. (Tac. Ann. 15.55; Sueton. Nero, 49, Domit. 14; D. C. 63.27, 29, 67.14; Arrian, Dissert. Epict. 1.26; Suidas, s. v. Ἐπίκτητος; comp. the commentators on Josephus.) From all these persons of the name of Epaphroditus, we must distinguish the one whom the Apostle Paul mentions as his companion. (Philipp. 2.25, 4.18.) [L.S]

of Chaeroneia, a Greek grammarian. He was a disciple of Archias of Alexandria, and became the slave and afterwards the freedman of Modestus, the prefect of Egypt, whose son Pitelinus had been educated by Epaphroditus. After having obtained his liberty, he went to Rome, where he resided in the reign of Nero and down to the time of Nerva, and enjoyed a very high reputation for his learning. He was extremely fond of books, and is said to have collected a library of 30,000 valuable books. He died of dropsy at the age of seventy-five. Suidas (s. v. Ἐπαφρόδιτος), from whom this account is derived, does not specify any work of our grammarian, but concludes his article by merely saying that he left behind him many good works. We know, however, from other sources, the titles of some grammatical works and commentaries : for example, on Homer's Iliad and Odyssey (Steph. Byz. s. v. Δωδώνη; Etym. M. s. vv. ἄωροι, Κεφαληνία), an ἐξήγησις εἰς ῞ομηρον καὶ πίνδαρον (Eudoc. p. 128), a commentary on Hesiod's " Shield of Heracles," and on the Αἴτια of Callimachus, which is frequently referred to by Stephanus of Byzantium and the Scholiast on Aeschylus. He is also mentioned several times in the Venetian Scholia on the Iliad. (Comp. Visconti, Iconograph. Grecq. i. p. 266.) [L.S]

(Ἐπαφρόδιτος). (1) A freedman and favourite of the emperor Nero, whom he assisted in committing suicide. He was himself put to death by Domitian. The philosopher Epictetus (q.v.) was his freedman.

(2) M. Mettius. A Greek grammarian of Chaeronea, the slave and subsequently the freedman of Modestus , Roman prefect of Egypt. He resided at Rome under Nero, and died there about A.D. 95. He was the author of several commentaries and grammatical works.