Flourished Sixth Century B.C.E.
Merchant

Reputation. Sostratus is one of the few ancient Greek merchants that is known by name. Originally from the island of Aegina, he became famous as a transporter of other people's goods in the latter part of the sixth century B.C.E. The historian Herodotus commended him on the profits he made on his cargoes: "with him, nobody can compare." He is also one of the elite class of individuals of this period whose existence is attested both in literature and in archaeological remains: many pots and pot shards, mostly of Athenian workmanship, have been found in Italy bearing Sostratus's mark, along with an offering of a stone ship's anchor that he made to the god Apollo. Sostratus was the foremost of what must have been a large number of Aeginetan entrepreneurs who made the island wealthy and...