Panyassis of Halicarnassus (Πανύασις ὁ Ἁλικαρνασσεύς) was a Greek epic poet of the 5th century BCE, a relative of the historian Herodotus, and a member of a distinguished Halicarnassian family [1][2][3]. He was executed by the tyrant Lygdamis around the mid-5th century BCE, likely for political opposition, with his floruit placed around 480-460 BCE [1][2][3].

His two major works survive only in fragments. The Heraclea (Ἡράκλεια) was a 14-book epic detailing the deeds of Heracles [1][2][3]. The Ionica (Ἰωνικά) was a historical or genealogical epic in elegiac couplets concerning the foundation of the Ionian cities [1][2][3].

Panyassis was highly esteemed in antiquity, ranked by some critics with Homer and Hesiod [1][2]. His Heraclea was a seminal, systematic treatment of the Heracles myth cycle, influencing later mythological poetry [1][3]. He represents the late archaic epic tradition and the intellectual milieu of Halicarnassus that produced both epic poetry and history.

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Panyassis 2. Perseus Digital Library, Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Dpanyassis-bio-1 3. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/Panyassis_of_Halicarnassus/