Heliodorus of Athens (Ἡλιόδωρος ὁ Ἀθηναῖος) was a Greek author of the 2nd century BCE. Beyond his Athenian origin and this chronological placement, deduced from his work, no biographical details survive.

His sole known work is On the Acropolis of Athens (Περὶ τῆς Ἀθηναίων ἀκροπόλεως), a topographical description of the Acropolis, its monuments, and dedications. The text is now lost, preserved only in fragments cited by later authors [1][2].

Heliodorus represents a minor contributor to Hellenistic local history and topography (Atthidography). His significance derives from his work’s later use as a reference by lexicographers and scholiasts for details of Acropolis monuments [1][2]. These fragments provide valuable evidence for modern reconstructions of the site’s Hellenistic appearance.

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: Heliodorus of Athens: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-2989 2. Perseus Digital Library, Harpocration, Lexicon in decem oratores Atticos, entry for "Ἀνάκειται": https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001%3Aentry%3Dana%2Fkeitai