No. 6677 · dated by century
Sostratos of Aegina
Sostratus of Aegina, son of Laodamas of Aegina, was a fabulously wealthy merchant who ran a trading business in the time of Greek colonization and commercial expansion.
His activities were mentioned in the work of famous Greek historian Herodotus regarding an extremely profitable trading voyages. Sostratos is described as an exceptionally successful businessman with whom allegedly no one could compare.
The dedication on an anchor found in Gravisca, the harbor of Tarquinia in Italy, dating to the late 6th or early 5th century BC had the inscription: “I belong to Aeginetan Apollo; Sostratos, son of..., had me made”. In addition, about one hundred Attic vases from that period were found in Etruria and bear the trademark SO. The mentioned evidences are suggesting that Sostratos was a businessman specialized in trade with Etruria, the leading political and economic power on the Apennine peninsula in the time preceding the Romans.