Philinus of Acragas (Φιλῖνος ὁ Ἀκραγαντῖνος)

Life Philinus of Acragas was a Greek historian of the 3rd century BCE from the Sicilian city of Acragas (modern Agrigento). He is known solely for writing a history of the First Punic War (264–241 BCE) [1]. His origin placed him in a central theater of that conflict, and his historical perspective is characterized as pro-Carthaginian [1][3].

Works His only known work is a history of the First Punic War. The text is lost, surviving only in fragments and through the criticism of later historians, most notably Polybius [1][3].

Significance Philinus’s significance derives from his role as a source and counterpoint for Polybius. Polybius attacked his account for pro-Carthaginian bias and inaccuracy [1][3]. Philinus remains important as a representative of a non-Roman perspective on the war, and his work was used by later historians like Diodorus Siculus [1].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Philinus-of-Acragas 2. Perseus Digital Library, Diodorus Siculus, Library, Book 23: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084%3Abook%3D23 3. Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (via Perseus): http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0104:entry=philinus-bio-1