The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Polybius of Tralles
fl. c. 108 (death unrecorded) · Bishop of Tralles · Tralles
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Polybius of Tralles was
Bishop of Tralles, who came in person to meet Ignatius at Smyrna and by his very bearing let the prisoner “behold your whole congregation in him.” Ignatius praises the Trallians’ subjection to their bishop as to Jesus Christ — a sentence quarried ever since in debates over the early episcopate.
Ignatius only (To the Trallians 1).
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When was Polybius active?
Polybius of Tralles is dated fl. c. 108 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Polybius in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Polybius?
Polybius of Tralles is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Ignatius of Antioch. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Polybius from?
The archive associates Polybius of Tralles with Tralles.
Who were Polybius’ contemporaries?
The archive links Polybius of Tralles to 2 other figures, including Ignatius of Antioch and Damas of Magnesia. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
To the Trallians 1
c. AD 108…in the person of Polybius your bishop, who came by the will of God and Jesus Christ to Smyrna, and so heartily congratulated me.Ignatius of Antioch · 1 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
- AD 70 · The fall of Jerusalem, AD 70
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Polybius.