Stesimbrotus of Thasos (Στησίμβροτος ὁ Θάσιος) was a 5th-century BCE Greek writer from the island of Thasos. Ancient sources indicate he was active in Athens during the Peloponnesian War period, moving in its political and intellectual circles [1]. The Byzantine Suda calls him a rhapsode and historian, suggesting he performed epic poetry in addition to writing prose [2]. Later authors, particularly Plutarch, cite him as a contemporary source for Athenian statesmen, though Plutarch also criticizes him for bias and slander, especially against Pericles, hinting at possible oligarchic sympathies [1].

His known work is On Themistocles, Thucydides, and Pericles (Περὶ Θεμιστοκλέους καὶ Θουκυδίδου καὶ Περικλέους), a biographical study of the three Athenian politicians. It survives only in fragments preserved by later authors like Plutarch and Athenaeus [1][2].

Stesimbrotus is significant as an early practitioner of biographical writing in Greece, focusing on character and anecdote rather than political narrative. His fragments offer valuable, if contested, insights into the personalities of the Athenian elite and the political culture of Classical Athens.

Sources 1. Plutarch, Life of Pericles (via Perseus Digital Library): https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0069%3Achapter%3D13%3Asection%3D10 2. Suda, sigma 1095 (via Suda On Line): https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/sigma/1095 3. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics (Search for "Stesimbrotus"): https://oxfordre.com/classics/ (No dedicated entry found; information sourced from other approved references.) 4. Encyclopædia Britannica (Search for "Stesimbrotus"): https://www.britannica.com/ (No dedicated entry found.)