Origins & Early Life

Apollodorus of Damascus (Latin: Apollodorus Damascenus, Ancient Greek: Ἀπολλόδωρος ὁ Δαμασκηνός) was an architect and engineer from Roman Syria, who flourished during the 2nd century AD. As an architect he authored several technical treatises, and his massive architectural output gained him immense popularity during his time. He is one of the few architects whose name survives from antiquity, and is credited with introducing several Eastern innovations to the Roman Imperial style, such as making the dome a standard. He is also known as Apollodorus Mechanicus.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Apollodorus was born in Damascus, Roman Syria. Modern sources refer to him as Arab, or specifically Nabatean Arab, Hellenized Nabatean, or as Greek. Neither Cassius Dio nor Procopius, scholars and historians of antiquity, mention his origins when writing of him. Some scholars state the name Apollodorus to be a Hellenized form of Nabataean "Abdal" or "Abodat". It is noted that Trajan may have first met the architect in Syria, where Apollodorus began his career and maintained his artistic ties.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Furthermore, the stylistic and grammatical weakness of his inscriptions in Greek language suggest that it was not his mother...

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