Citation with stable link: Philip A. Harland, 'Guide to Alexander Polyhistor,' Ethnic Relations and Migration in the Ancient World, last modified May 26, 2024, https://philipharland.com/Blog/?p=18252.

This is a guide to ethnographic passages from Alexander Polyhistor’s (early to mid-first century BCE) works on this website, as well as a separate outline of noteworthy passages from his ethnographic works generally.  All fragments or citations of his works (F#) are from FGrHist 273 (link to FGrHist).

On this website:

On the Euxine Sea /  On the Sea (F14-16, 134, 138, 139)

• Abians and Iamians among Scythians – F14-15 (link)

On Indian Matters (F18, 118, 136, 141)

• Indian wisdom among Brahmans and naked sages – F18 (link)

On Judeans (F19a-b, 102, 117, 121)

• Judean wisdom of Abraham and Moses, citing Eupolemos – F19a (link)
• Polyhistor citing Kleodemos on the descendants of Keturah – F102 (link)

On Phrygia (F73-78, 114, 126-127)

• Phrygians and the legendary Marsyas, as preserved by pseudo-Plutarch – F76 (link)

Chaldean Matters (F79a-81b)

• Babylonian perspectives via Bel-re’ushu / Berossos on the origins of civilization – F79a (link)
• Assyrians, Medians, Persians, and Macedonians as a succession of empires, as cited by Agathias Scholastikos, History 2.25-26 – F81a (link)

On Pythagorean Symbols (F94)

• Pythagoras as a student of Zarathustra the “Assyrian,” of Galatians and of Indian Brahmans, via citation by Clement of Alexandria (link) and by Cyril (link)

Unknown work mentioning Ethiopians (F130)

• Memnonians among Ethiopians as wild (link)

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Not on this website but noteworthy for his ethnographic works

On Egyptian Matters (F1-11)

• Numerous brief citations regarding locales in Egypt, mainly preserved by Stephanos of Byzantion in Ethnika

On Bithynia (F12-13, 125)

• Two brief citations on locales in Phrygia and Bithynia preserved by the Etymologicum Magnum and by Stephanos

On the Euxine Sea /  On the Sea (F14-16, 134, 138, 139)

• Brief citation by Stephanos of Byzantion (Ethnika) about Hagion as a place in Scythia where Asklepios is honoured – F112

On Illyrian Matters (F17a-b)

• Two brief references to the work itself

On Indian Matters (F18, 118, 136, 141)

• Brief citation of Polyhistor by Stephanos on Gedrosia, towards India – F118

On the Judeans (F19a-b, 102, 117, 121)

• Brief citation of Polyhistor by Clement of Alexandria, Tapestries 1.130, regarding Solomon’s hiring of Egyptians to build the temple – F19b
• Brief citation by Stephanos on Gazatians in Gaza – F 117
• Brief citation by Stephanos to the effect that name of Judea “comes from the children of Semiramis, Judah and Idumaia” – F 121

Italian Matters (F20)

• Brief citation of Polyhistor by pseudo-Plutarch, Minor Parallels 40b, 315ef

Carian Matters (F21-28, 113)

• Various brief citations on locales in Caria, as preserved by Stephanos (Ethnika)

On Cilicia (F29, 123, 132, 135, 140)

• Brief citation on the city Aphrodisias, as preserved by Stephanos (Ethnika)

Cretan Matters (F30)

• Brief citation regarding gods and Crete, as preserved in a Scholion on Apollonios of Rhodes Argonautika 4.1490-1494

On Cyprus (F31, 144)

• Brief citation about the Chutrians on Cyprus, as preserved by Stephanos (Ethnika)

Libyan Matters (F32-47, 115, 120, 124, 142)

• Numerous brief citations regarding locales in Libya, mainly preserved by Stephanos (Ethnika)
• Work mentioned by Photios, Library 188, 145 b 9