Apollodorus of Damascus (Ἀπολλόδωρος ὁ Δαμασκηνός) was a Greek engineer and architect active during the reigns of the Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian in the 2nd century CE. As Trajan’s chief architect and military engineer, he designed Trajan’s Forum, Trajan’s Column, and the Danube Bridge for the Dacian campaigns [1][2][3]. Ancient sources report he later fell from favor with Hadrian, who exiled and executed him, possibly around 125–130 CE [1][2].

His sole surviving work is the Poliorketika (Πολιορκητικά, Siegecraft), a dedicated treatise on siege engines and military machinery containing descriptions and diagrams of devices such as battering rams and mobile shelters [1][2][4].

Apollodorus represents the peak of imperial Roman architectural and engineering integration. His forum complex was the largest of its kind and influenced subsequent imperial projects, while his technical expertise was crucial to Roman military success [1][3]. His career illustrates the high status attainable by Greek specialists within the Roman administration.

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Apollodorus-of-Damascus 2. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/Apollodorus_of_Damascus/ 3. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-528 4. Perseus Digital Library (Catalog entry for Poliorketika): http://catalog.perseus.org/catalog/urn:cite:perseus:author.62