CALLISTRATUS

callistratus, greek sophist and rhetorician, probably flourished in the 3rd century. he wrote [greek: ekfraseis], descriptions of fourteen works of art in stone or brass by distinguished artists. this little work, which is written in a dry and affected style, without any real artistic feeling, is usually edited with the [greek: eikones] of philostratus. edition by schenkl-reisch (teubner series, 1902); see also c.g. heyne, _opuscula academica_, v. pp. 196-221, with commentary on the _descriptiones_; f. jacobs, _animadversiones criticae in callistrati statuas_ (1797). callistratus of aphidnae, athenian orator and general in the 4th century b.c. for many years, as _prostates_, he supported spartan interests at athens. on account of the refusal of the thebans to surrender oropus, which on his advice they had been allowed to occupy temporarily, callistratus, despite his magnificent defence (which so impressed demosthenes that he resolved to study oratory), was condemned to death, 361 b.c. he fled to methone in macedonia, and on his return to athens in 355 he was executed. see xenophon, _hellenica_, iii. 3, vi. 2; lycurgus, _in leocr._ 93.