Satyrus of Callatis (Σάτυρος ὁ Καλλατίδης) was a Hellenistic historian and biographer of the 3rd century BCE from the city of Callatis, a Dorian colony on the Black Sea [1]. He is often called "Satyrus the Peripatetic," an epithet likely reflecting the anecdotal style of his writing rather than confirmed philosophical affiliation, and he appears to have been active in Ptolemaic Alexandria [1][3]. The Suda identifies him as a φιλόλογος (philologist) [1].

His major work was the Βίοι (Lives), a multi-volume collection of biographies. It survives only in fragments, primarily preserved by later authors like Athenaeus and Diogenes Laërtius [1][3]. The most significant extant portion is his Life of Euripides, recovered from a papyrus roll (P.Oxy. 1176) [1][2]. Other subjects included Demosthenes, Dionysius I of Syracuse, and Sophocles [1][3].

Satyrus is a pivotal figure in the development of ancient biography. His method employed a distinctive, sometimes dialogic, narrative focused on character portrayal through anecdote, influencing later writers like Plutarch [1][2]. The papyrus fragment of his Life of Euripides provides a crucial primary source for understanding early Hellenistic biographical technique, and his fragments remain valuable for their preserved historical and literary details [1][2][3].

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: Satyrus: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-5712 2. Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University: Satyrus: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=satyrus-harpers 3. Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, via Perseus: Satyrus: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0104:entry=satyrus-bio-1