Scamon of Mytilene (Σκάμων ὁ Μυτιληναῖος)

Life Scamon of Mytilene is an obscure historian from the island of Lesbos. His chronology is uncertain, with suggested dates ranging from the 4th to the 2nd century BCE. The sole surviving testimony comes from Athenaeus of Naucratis, who cites him in the Deipnosophistae [1]. No further biographical details are recorded.

Works Scamon is known for a single work: On Inventions (Περὶ εὑρημάτων). This text is lost, surviving only in fragments preserved by Athenaeus [1][2]. It treated the origins of cultural practices and myths pertaining to the Aeolic Greek world, particularly Lesbos.

Significance Scamon’s significance rests on his role as a fragmentary local historian of Lesbos. His work represents the genre of writings peri heureseōn (“on inventions”). The cited fragments provide minor insights into regional lore and are primarily of interest to specialists in Greek historiography and local mythography.

Sources 1. Perseus Digital Library (Tufts University): Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae, 11.466a. This text cites "Scamon in the first book of On Inventions" regarding a story about Pittacus of Mytilene. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc1:11.466a 2. ToposText: Fragment of Scamon of Mytilene. This entry lists the author and his work On Inventions based on the citation from Athenaeus. https://topostext.org/people/1500