Gaius Avidius Heliodorus Explained

Gaius Avidius Heliodorus (c. 100  - aft. 142) was an eques and noted orator who held at least two important appointments during the reigns of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius.

Life

He was of Ancient Egyptian or Greek origin and became ab epistulis under Hadrian, and later prefect of Egypt between 137 and 142.^{[1] [2]} According to the Historia Augusta, Heliodorus drew the wrath of emperor Hadrian, who attacked him in a notorious letter.^[3] Nevertheless, he remained prefect of Egypt for several years under Hadrian's successor, Antoninus Pius.^[4]

Heliodorus married Julia Cassia Alexandra, princess of Judaea; she was the daughter of Gaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus and Cassia Lepida, a descendant of Cassius and Augustus. Their son was the usurper Avidius Cassius.^[5]

Notes and References

1. G. Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30^a al 299^p", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 17 (1975), p. 288
2. Revcel Coles has suggested a more precise date for when he took office, "between August 28th and September 7th 137" ("The Date of the Commencement of the Prefecture of Avidius Heliodorus", in Proceedings of the Twelfth International Congress of Papyrology, edited by Deborah H. Samuel (Toronto: A.M. Hakkert, 1970), pp. 85-87.
3. [G.W. Bowersock]
4. Bowersock, Greek Sophists, p. 52
5. [Dio Cassius]