Helladius (grammarian)

Helladius (Greek: Έλλάδιος) was a Byzantine period grammarian, professor, and a priest of Zeus during the 4th and 5th centuries.

Helladius was a professor of some distinction in Alexandria. In 391, he was involved in a violent revolt centred at the Serapeum, where the pagan rebels tortured and killed captured Christians, with Helladius reportedly personally killing nine Christians.^[1] After the suppression of the revolt and the destruction of the temple, Helladius fled to Constantinople,^[2][3]

By the reign of Theodosius II (408–450 A.D.), he was back to actively teaching grammar.^[3] Socrates of Constantinople in his youth was one of his pupils.^[4] Helladius was granted comitiva ordinis primi by this emperor in 425 A.D., by virtue of which he became ranked among the ex vicarii.^[5]

Helladius compiled a Greek lexicon entitled λεξικὸν κατὰ στοιχεῖου^[7] or τῶν λέξεων συλλογή^[8] according to Photius; elsewhere it is stated the lexicon bore the title λέξεως παντοίας χρῆσις κατα στοῖχειον.^[9] Helladius was one of the important sources used by the Suda as well.^[3][2][6]