Gaius Avidius Heliodorus
Gaius Avidius Heliodorus (c. 100 – aft. 142) was an eques and noted orator who held at least two important appointments during the reigns of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius.
Life[]
He was of Greek origin and became ab epistulis under Hadrian, and later prefect of Egypt between 137 and 142.[1] According to the Historia Augusta, Heliodorus drew the wrath of emperor Hadrian, who attacked him in a notorious letter.[2] Nevertheless, he remained prefect of Egypt for several years under Hadrian's successor, Antoninus Pius.[3]
Heliodorus married Julia Cassia Alexandra, princess of Judaea; she was the daughter of Gaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus and Cassia Lepida, a descendant of Cassius and Augustus. Their son was the usurper Avidius Cassius.[4]
References[]
- ^ G. Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30a al 299p", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 17 (1975), p. 288
- ^ G.W. Bowersock, Greek Sophists in the Roman Empire (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1965), pp. 50f
- ^ Bowersock, Greek Sophists, p. 52
- ^ Dio Cassius, 71.22
Categories:
- Roman governors of Egypt
- 2nd-century Romans
- 2nd-century Roman governors of Egypt
- Avidii