Peisander of Laranda (Πείσανδρος ὁ Λαρανδινός) was a Greek epic poet of the 3rd century CE, active during the reign of Alexander Severus (222–235 CE) [1]. A native of Laranda in Lycaonia, he is identified as the father of the 4th-century poet Peisander of Byzantium [1][2]. No further biographical details are recorded.

His known work is the Heroikai Theogamiai (Ἡρωικαὶ Θεογαμίαι, "Heroic Marriages of the Gods"), a mythological epic in 60 books now lost except for fragments [1][2][3]. It narrated divine and heroic marriages from Zeus and Hera to Aphrodite and Anchises.

Peisander is a significant transitional figure in later Greek epic poetry. His lengthy, encyclopedic poem exemplifies the learned epic tradition of the Imperial period and directly influenced Nonnus of Panopolis [1]. The work served as a source for later mythographic compilations and Byzantine scholarship [2].

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics (Oxford University Press): https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-4802 2. Perseus Digital Library (Tufts University): http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Dpeisander-bio-2 3. ToposText (Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation): https://topostext.org/people/1080