Theon
5.
Aelius Theon, of Alexandria, a sophist and rhetorician.
Works
Theon wrote a treatise on Rhetoric (
τέχνη), a work
περὶ προγυμνασμάτων (or, as some scholars read the text of Suidas, the words
τέχνη περὶ προγυμνασμάτων form only one title), Commentaries on Xenophon, Isocrates, and Demosthenes, Rhetorical Themes (
ῥητορικαὶ ὑποθέσεις), Questions respecting the Composition of Language (
ζητήματα περὶ συντάξεως λόγου), and numerous other works (Suid. s.v. Eudoc. p. 231).
The
Προγυμνάσματα is still extant.
It is an excellent and useful treatise on the proper system of preparation for the profession of an orator, according to the rules laid down by Hermogenes and Aphthonius.
Editions
It was first printed, in Greek only, by Angelus Barbatus, Romae, 1520, 4to; again, with an amended text and a Latin version, by Joachim Camierarius, Basil. 1541, 8vo.; by Dan. Heinsius, from the Elzevir press, Lugd. Bat. 1626, 8vo.; by Joan. Schefferus, with the
Progymnasmata of Aphthonius, Upsal. 1670 or 1680, 8vo.; and recently, with the
Scholia, Notes, and Indices, by C. E. Finckh, Stuttgard. 1834. 8vo. and also in Walz's
Rhetorci Graeci, vol. i. pp. 137, foll.
Other Works Possibly by Aelius Theon
Küster (
ad Suid. s. v.) thinks that Aelius Theon was the author of the Commentary on Apollonius, mentioned above (No. 1), and also of the extant
Scholia on Aratus, which others refer to the father of Hypatia.
Further Information
Fabric.
Bibl. Graec. vol. vi. pp. 97, 98; Hoffmann,
Lexicon, Bibliogr. Scriptor. Graecorum, s. v. 
