Life Theognis of Rhodes (Θέογνις ὁ Ῥόδιος) is a poorly attested poet known only from scattered references. He is identified as a Rhodian, distinct from the more famous elegiac poet Theognis of Megara, though ancient sources sometimes conflated them [1]. A scholion on Pindar confirms his Rhodian origin and identifies him as a composer of a paean [2]. No further biographical details survive.

Works Only one specific work is attributed to him: a Paean (Παιάνα), a choral lyric hymn. It survives in a two-line fragment preserved by the grammarian Hephaestion as a metrical example and is also cited in the Etymologicum Magnum [1][2].

Significance Theognis of Rhodes holds minor importance, cited primarily in ancient metrical handbooks and commentaries as an example of a paean-writer. His chief historical relevance lies in illustrating the confusion between homonymous poets in antiquity [1]. The surviving fragment contributes a small piece to the corpus of Hellenistic lyric but permits no substantial literary analysis.

Sources 1. Perseus Digital Library, Suda Encyclopedia, entry "Theognis": http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0054%3Aentry%3Dtheognis 2. Perseus Digital Library, Hephaestion, Enchiridion, section 15.5: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0621%3Achapter%3D15%3Asection%3D5