Bato of Sinope (Βάτων ὁ Σινωπεύς)

Life Bato of Sinope was a Greek historian of the 2nd century BCE, originating from the Pontic colony of Sinope [1]. No further biographical details are recorded.

Works His only known work is the lost history titled Persica (Περσικά), which survives only in fragments [1, 2, 3]. It treated Persian history and mythology.

Significance Bato is a minor historian within the Greek Persica tradition. His work was utilized by later authors such as Strabo, Athenaeus, and the Byzantine patriarch Photius, who summarizes its mythical account of Persian origins from Perseus and Andromeda [1, 2, 3]. He represents the Hellenistic engagement with Near Eastern history.

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bato-of-Sinope 2. Perseus Digital Library, entry for "Baton (2)" in Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Dbaton-bio-2 3. ToposText, fragment listing for Bato of Sinope: https://topostext.org/people/1447