Phlegon

Phlegon is a Greek given name borne by several figures in the ancient world. The most prominent is Phlegon of Tralles, a Greek writer active in the 2nd century CE. He produced a universal history in the form of a chronicle and a collection of notes on various subjects, especially natural phenomena. What survives of his work is fragmentary and is known largely through later authors such as Eusebius of Caesarea and Photius. HisChronography or Chronicles is described as attempting to assemble a continuous history from mythical times to his own era, and it includes passages on astronomical events and other topics that have informed modern scholars studying ancient chronology.

In addition to his historical writings, Phlegon is cited in discussions of earthquakes, eclipses, and other phenomena, though the reliability and scope of these fragments are debated. The details of Phlegon of Tralles’ life are not well attested, and much of what is known comes from secondary quotations and summaries rather than from his own surviving works.

The name Phlegon was borne by other individuals in antiquity as well, though information about them is sparse and often uncertain. In general, Phlegon remains a relatively obscure figure in classical studies, valued mainly for the occasional persistent fragment that sheds light on ancient chronology and the transmission of historical knowledge.

Overall, Phlegon refers to a tradition of late antique writing rather than to a single, extensively documented author, with Phlegon of Tralles providing the most substantial, albeit fragmentary, connection to ancient chronography.