Helladius (grammarian)

Helladius was a Greek grammarian who lived in Alexandria during the 4th century CE. He is primarily known for being the father of Aurelianus, who succeeded him as head of a grammar school in Alexandria, and for his association with the Neoplatonist philosopher Hypatia.

Little is known about the details of Helladius' life or his specific grammatical work. Sources indicate that he was a pagan priest and philosopher who was forced to flee Alexandria to Constantinople around 389 CE due to religious persecution against pagans during the reign of Emperor Theodosius I. He is said to have incited riots and destroyed pagan temples.

In Constantinople, Helladius was apparently well-received. He was given a position, possibly as a teacher, and enjoyed the favor of the emperor. He eventually returned to Alexandria, where he resumed teaching grammar.

The main sources of information about Helladius are the Suda (a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia) and accounts related to the life of Hypatia. These sources provide only fragments of information, leaving a somewhat unclear picture of his intellectual and religious activities. The accounts emphasize his staunch pagan beliefs and his conflicts with the increasingly dominant Christian authorities. His legacy primarily rests on his connection to Hypatia and the social and religious tensions of his time.