Hegemon of Alexandria (Ἡγέμων ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς, ὁ Τρωάδος) was a Hellenistic epic poet active in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (283–246 BCE) [1]. A native of the Troad, he was a disciple (γνώριμος) of the scholar-poet Philitas of Cos, which places him within the intellectual circles of the early Ptolemaic court [1].

His known works are two lost epic poems composed in the Homeric dialect: the Ἀμαζώνεια (Amazonia), concerning the Amazons, and the Φορωνίς (Phoronis), named for the primordial Argive king Phoroneus [1].

Hegemon’s significance lies in his documented connection to Philitas, linking him to the formative literary culture of Alexandria [1]. As an epic poet treating antiquarian myths, he represents a continuation of the traditional epic form during the Hellenistic period. His works were later cited by grammarians as references for mythological details [1].

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: Hegemon (1), of Alexandria: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-2969