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Alexander The Paphlagonian
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Alexander The Paphlagonian

ancient religious charlatan
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Article History
Quick Facts
Born:
2nd century ad
Flourished:
101 - 200
Turkey
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Alexander The Paphlagonian (born 2nd century ad) was a celebrated impostor and worker of false oracles. The only account of his career occurs in an exposé by Lucian, whose investigations of Alexander’s frauds led to a serious attempt on the writer’s life.

Alexander established an oracle of Asclepius (the Greek god of healing) at his native town by staging a “rebirth” of the god in the form of a snake, which he called Glycon. He instituted mystical “rites” from which his particular enemies, the Christians and Epicureans, were excluded. He went so far as to celebrate a marriage between himself and the Moon. Through blackmail and other abuses he was able to amass a fortune.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.