Aristodemus the Historian (Ἀριστόδημος ὁ ἱστορικός) was a Greek historian active in the late Hellenistic or early Roman Imperial period (1st c. BCE – 1st c. CE). He is often identified, though not with certainty, as Aristodemus of Nysa, a grammarian and historian [1]. The details of his life and birthplace remain obscure [1, 2, 3].

His two known works survive only in fragments. According to the Suda, he wrote Events after Polybius (Τὰ μετὰ Πολύβιον), covering history from 144/3 to around 86 BCE, including the Social War and First Mithridatic War [1, 2]. He is also credited with an Early History of Rome (Ἀρχαιολογία Ῥωμαϊκή), cited by Dionysius of Halicarnassus [1, 2, 3].

Aristodemus’s significance lies in his role as a source for later historians. His work bridged the gap between Polybius and later Roman-era historians, providing valuable evidence for the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE. His fragments were used by later compilers like Diodorus Siculus and Plutarch for the history of the Mithridatic Wars [1, 2].

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-771 2. Perseus Digital Library, Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0104:entry=aristodemus-bio-1 3. ToposText: https://topostext.org/people/1441