Gaius Avidius Heliodorus

2nd century Roman politician and prefect of Egypt

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

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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]

## References

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1. ^ G. Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30a al 299p", 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, Greek Sophists in the Roman Empire (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1965), pp. 50f
4. ^ Bowersock, Greek Sophists, p. 52
5. ^ Dio Cassius, 71.22

Political offices

Preceded by

Marcus Petronius Mamertinus

|  Prefect of Egypt
137–142  | Succeeded by

Gaius Valerius Eudaemon

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