Philo of Alexandria the Elder (Φίλων ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς) was a Hellenistic Jewish epic poet who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, during the late first century BCE or early first century CE [1]. He is distinguished from the philosopher Philo Judaeus by the epithet "the Elder" (ὁ Πρεσβύτερος) [1][2].

His sole known work is the Greek hexameter epic On Jerusalem (Περὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ) [1][2][3]. Only fragments survive, preserved in quotations by Origen and Porphyry [1][2]. The poem recast biblical history, including the stories of Abraham and Joseph, in Homeric style [1][3].

Philo the Elder is a significant early example of a Jewish author employing Greek epic form to express Jewish scripture and history [1]. His work exemplifies the cultural synthesis of the Jewish diaspora in Alexandria. The fragments provide valuable evidence for this literary interaction and were later cited in debates about biblical chronology [1][2].

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-5002 2. Perseus Digital Library, Suda entry for Philo: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=fi/lwn2&highlight=philo 3. The Center for Hellenic Studies, Harvard University: https://chs.harvard.edu/primary-source/philodemus-on-poetry-selections/