Hermesianax of Cyprus Phrygian Histories and Myths in Greek

The Phrygian Histories and Myths is a lost prose work attributed to Hermesianax of Cyprus, a figure distinct from the Hellenistic poet Hermesianax of Colophon. Compiled in four books, it was a collection concerning the legendary history, mythology, and local antiquities of the Phrygian region. The work’s existence is known solely from a 10th-century entry in the Byzantine encyclopedia known as the Suda, which records its title and structure; it is not cited in any other extant ancient literature. The Suda’s notice indicates the work was available in Constantinople and was considered notable for lexicographical purposes. It represents one of many lost Hellenistic-era local histories that compiled regional myths, reflecting the period’s scholarly interest in antiquarian research.