AGATHARCHIDES, or

See also:

• AGATHARCHUS

AGATHARCHUS  , of Cnidus, Greek historian and geographer, lived in the time of Ptolemy Philometor (181—146 B.C.) and his successors . Amongst other works, he wrote treatises on Asia, Europe and The Red Sea . Interesting extracts from the last, of some length, are preserved in Photius (cod . 213), who praises the style of the author, which waswriters know nothing of canvas scenes; the background painted by Agatharchus was the wooden front of the stage building, and it was painted, not with reference to any particular play, but as a permanent decorative background, representing no doubt a palace or temple . Agatharchus is said to have been seized by Alcibiades and compelled by him to paint the interior of his house, which shows that at the time (about 435 B.C.) decorative painting of rooms was the fashion .