Gaius Avidius Heliodorus

Gaius Avidius Heliodorus (c. 100 – aft. 142) was an eques and noted orator who held at least two important appointments during the reigns of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius.

He was of Greek origin and became ab epistulis under Hadrian, and later prefect of Egypt between 137 and 142.[1] According to the Historia Augusta, Heliodorus drew the wrath of emperor Hadrian, who attacked him in a notorious letter.[2] Nevertheless, he remained prefect of Egypt for several years under Hadrian's successor, Antoninus Pius.[3]

Heliodorus married Julia Cassia Alexandra, princess of Judaea; she was the daughter of Gaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus and Cassia Lepida, a descendant of Cassius and Augustus. Their son was the usurper Avidius Cassius.[4]

References
  1. G. Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30a al 299p", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 17 (1975), p. 288
  2. G.W. Bowersock, Greek Sophists in the Roman Empire (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1965), pp. 50f
  3. Bowersock, Greek Sophists, p. 52
  4. Dio Cassius, 71.22
Political offices
Preceded by
Marcus Petronius Mamertinus		 Prefect of Egypt
137–142		 Succeeded by
Gaius Valerius Eudaemon
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