Apellicon of Teos

Apellicon Of Teos

Apellicon (Greek: Ἀπελλικῶν) (died c. 84 BCE), a wealthy native of Teos, afterwards an Athenian citizen, was a famous book collector of the 1st century BCE.

He not only spent large sums in the acquisition of his library, but stole original documents from the archives of Athens and other cities of Greece. Being detected, he fled in order to escape punishment, but returned when Athenion (or Aristion), a bitter opponent of the Romans, had made himself tyrant of the city with the aid of Mithradates. Athenion sent him with some troops to Delos, to plunder the treasures of the temple, but he showed little military capacity. He was surprised by the Romans under the command of Orobius (or Orbius), and only saved his life by flight. He died a little later, probably in 84 BCE.