Nicaenetus of Samos (Νικαίνετος ὁ Σάμιος) was a Hellenistic poet of the 3rd century BCE. Identified as a native of Samos, he is also at times associated with Abdera in Thrace [1]. He was a contemporary of Aratus of Soli and, according to the Suda, a student of the poet Philicus of Corcyra, connecting him to Alexandrian literary circles [1][2].

His work survives only in fragments. The Suda credits him with an epic poem titled Lyrkos (or Lycus) and a collection of Epigrams [1][2]. Several of these epigrams were included in Meleager's Garland, and a few fragments are preserved in the Greek Anthology and the works of Athenaeus [1][2].

Nicaenetus represents the lesser-known epic poets of the Hellenistic era. His inclusion in the Garland indicates his epigrams were respected, and his connection to Philicus places him within the period's scholarly poetic tradition. His fragments provide valuable evidence for the range of themes and styles in early Hellenistic poetry beyond its most canonical figures.

Sources 1. Suda On Line (The Stoa Consortium): https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/nu/407 2. Perseus Digital Library (Tufts University): https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Dnicaenetus-bio-1