Apion

Apion was a Greek writer and grammarian from Alexandria who flourished in the late Hellenistic or early Roman period, typically dated to the late 1st century BCE or early 1st century CE. Very little is known about his life, and most of what is understood about him comes from fragments quoted by later authors and summaries in medieval and early modern lexica. His exact dates and biographical details remain uncertain.

Apion is best known for works on the antiquities of Egypt. The transmitted material concerns Egyptian history, religion, and customs, and is often discussed in the context of early Egyptology and cultural apologetics. He is traditionally associated with a treatise sometimes titled On the Antiquities of Egypt (or On the Egyptians), in which he sought to defend Egyptian tradition against Greek and Mediterranean skepticism and to argue for the antiquity and credibility of Egyptian institutions and records. A notable aspect of his writing is his polemic against Herodotus, whom he accused of inaccuracy regarding Egypt. Through his portrayal of Egyptian priests, genealogies, and archives, Apion asserted that Egyptian chronology and knowledge predated many Greek accounts.

Because Apion’s works survive only in fragments quoted by later writers, our understanding of his arguments relies on secondary sources such as scholars of Photius and other antiquarians. Modern assessments view his writings as part of a broader scholarly and rhetorical tradition that engaged with Egyptian antiquity, sometimes shaping later apologetic and exegetical literature rather than offering a continuous historical narrative. His contributions are cited as evidence of early Greek engagement with and defense of Egyptian history and culture.