Herennius Philo

Herennius Philo, of Byblos, Greek grammarian, was born, according to the "Suda," in AD 42. He lived into the reign of Hadrian, of which he wrote a history, now lost.

He was the author of various works:
*"On the Acquisition and Choice of Books"
*"On Cities and their Famous Men", epitomized by the grammarian Aelius Serenus, and one of the chief authorities used by Hesychius and Stephanus of Byzantium
*"On Synonyms", of which there is extant an epitome by Ammonius Grammaticus.

But he is chiefly known for his translation of the Phoenician history of "Sanchuniathon", who was said to have lived before the Trojan war. Of this work considerable fragments have been preserved, chiefly by Eusebius in the "Praeparatio evangelica" (i.9; iv.16). They present a euhemeristic "rechauffe" of Phoenician theology and mythology, which is represented as translated from the original Phoenician. "Sanchuniathon" is probably an imaginary personage, whose name is formed from that of the Phoenician god Sanchon.

Editions of the fragments by JC von Orelli (1826) and C Muller, "Frag. hist. graec." vol. iii. In 1836 F Wagenfeld brought out what is claimed to be a complete translation by Philo (from a manuscript discovered in a convent in Portugal, now considered spurious). There are English translations by IP Cory (1828) and Bishop R Cumberland (1720).

References

*1911