Apion

Apion, Greek grammarian and commentator on Homer, born at Oasis in Libya, flourished in the first half of the 1st century AD.

He studied at Alexandria, and headed a deputation sent to Caligula (in 38) by the Alexandrians to complain of the Jews. His charges were answered by Josephus in his Contra Apionem.

He settled at Rome--it is uncertain when--and taught rhetoric till the reign of Claudius. Apion was a man of great industry and learning, but extremely vain. He wrote several works, which are lost. The well-known story of Androclus and the Lion, preserved in Aulus Gellius, is from his work. Fragments of his work are printed the Etymologicum Gudianum, ed. Sturz, 1818.