Antipater of Thessalonica
Antipater of Thessalonica was a Greek epigrammatist of the Roman period.
Biography
Antipater lived during the latter part of the reign of Augustus, and perhaps into the reign of Caligula. He enjoyed the patronage of Lucius Calpurnius Piso, to whom several of his poems are addressed. Piso appointed him governor of Thessalonica.He is named as the author of 35 epigrams in the Greek Anthology, with another 96 being attributed only to "Antipater" but not specifying which Antipater is meant. Antipater is the most copious and perhaps the most interesting of the Augustan epigrammatists. There are many allusions in his work to contemporary history:
- One poem celebrates the foundation of Nicopolis by Octavian after the battle of Actium
- Another anticipates his victory over the Parthians in the expedition of 20 BC
- Another is addressed to Gaius Caesar, who died in AD 4.