Bion of Smyrna

Bion (Βίων /ˈbaɪɒn/) was an ancient Greek bucolic poet from Smyrna, probably active at the end of the second or beginning of the first century BC.

He is named in the Suda as one of three canonical bucolic poets alongside Theocritus and Moschus.

[1] Ancient sources do not record Bion's dates or any details about his life,[2] but he likely was active in the late second or early first century BC.

[1] The Suda and the scholiast on the Palatine Anthology name Bion alongside Theocritus and Moschus as a bucolic poet; he also wrote erotic poetry.

[8] Bion's work continued to be read until the sixth century AD,[9] and was alluded to by ancient poets including Meleager of Gadara,[10] Ovid, Catullus,[11] and Nonnus.