Tiberius Claudius Balbilus

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Tiberius Claudius Balbillus (c.3 - c.79) was a Greek astrologer, the supposed son of the astrologer Thrasyllus of Mendes.

During the reign of the emperor Caligula he fled from Rome to Alexandria, but returned to Rome under Claudius, with whom he had been friendly when they were children and had met at the house of Thrassylus. He accompanied Claudius on his expedition to Britain as an officer in the 20th legion (Legio XX Valeria Victrix), and when they returned was awarded a crown of honour.

Appointed high priest at the Temple of Hermes in Alexandria and director of the Library, he split his time between there and Rome. He foretold an eclipse which fell on one of the emperor’s birthdays, and remained as advisor to Claudius even after the emperor had passed an edict expelling all astrologers from Rome. He avoided the fatal end of many astrologers under Nero, who in 56CE appointed him Prefect of Egypt, where he stayed until 59. He returned to Rome under Vespasian, who thought well of him and honoured him by allowing the Balbillean Games, held at Ephesus in the astrologer’s honour until well into the third century.