Thallus Open this page in a new tab

Thallus (Greek: Θαλλός) was an early historian who wrote in Koine Greek. He wrote a three-volume history of the Mediterranean world from before the Trojan War to the 167th Olympiad, 112–108 BC, or perhaps to the 217th Olympiad, AD 89-93. Most of his work has been lost, although some of his writings were quoted by Sextus Julius Africanus (c.160 - c.240 CE) in his History of the World - which has also been lost but is quoted by later authors such as George Syncellus. It is not known when Thallus lived and wrote but one estimate is that he wrote sometime in the 2nd century CE (Carrier, 2011-2012:188-189). Others say he wrote in 52 CE.