Hyginos
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Hyginos is the name of a freedman of the first Roman emperor Augustus. Although historians are not sure of the exact year of his birth, the year that fits Suetonius's account of the life of Augustus place it at around 55 B.C. At the behest of Augustus, he came to Rome as a boy from either Alexandria or Spain. He was raised in the household of Octavian, the future princeps, and received much of his education there. He was taught by the prolific Greek scholar, Alexandros Polyhistor of Miletus, who had been in Rome since 82 B.C. Eventually, Hyginos became Octavian's librarian and was the teacher of the great poet, Ovid. The library was part of Augustus's ambitious building project, the Temple of Apollo, which was built on the Palatine Hill, a place of mythological and legendary significance for the Roman people. Hyginos was freed on the inauguration of this library, which most likely took place in 28 B.C.. Upon receiving his freedom, he was known at Gaius Julius Hyginus.
For further information see:
Roller, Duane W.. The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene. New York: Routledge, 2003.
