Little is known about the anonymous author of the work, though clues from the text are often used to garner information. While "it has been suggested that he was a rhetor, sophist, merchant, entrepreneur [sic] or a
vir rusticus", the work's preoccupation with trade and port cities is notable. He mentions 61 cities, only 16 of which are in the western portion of the Empire. It is usually assumed he was a native of
Syria. The author's religion is likewise a mystery. While he mentions numerous Greek writers (
Berossus,
Manetho, a mysterious Apollonius,
Menander of Ephesus,
Herodotus and
Thucydides), he shows little sign of any real influence by them, or indeed of any meaningful education, possibly only being aware of them through his familiarity with
Against Apion by
Josephus, whom he refers to as the "teacher of the Jews". On the one hand, Josephus is more likely to have been known to a Christian. The text also contains "Biblical allusions" and "Christian phrases". However, the text shows no interest in the churches or holy sites documented by the later Christian
itineraria, and is more likely to note a city's "gripping games, good wines and pretty women", while displaying an "obvious affinity" for pagan cults and rituals. ==Latin translations==