Aratus (redirected from Aratus of Soli)

Aratus, Greek statesman and general

Aratus, d. 213 B.C., Greek statesman and general of Sicyon, prime mover and principal leader of the Second Achaean League. His objective at first was to free the Peloponnesus from Macedonian domination, and he is credited with bringing into the confederation many of the principal cities of Greece. But he was blamed for the subsequent Macedonian domination of the Peloponnesus, for while fighting Cleomenes III of Sparta and the Aetolian League he changed his policy toward Macedonia and called in Antigonus III.

Bibliography

See F. W. Walbank, Aratos of Sicyon (1933).

---

Aratus, Greek poet

Aratus (ərā`təs), fl. 3d cent. B.C., Greek court poet, from Soli in Cilicia. He wrote an astronomical treatise, Phenomena, which was quoted by Paul at Athens.