Nicaenetus of Samos

{{Short description|Greek epic and epigrammatic poet}}

Nicaenetus of Samos ({{langx|grc|Νικαίνετος}}) was a Greek epic and epigrammatic poet of the 3rd century BC. He wrote, among other things, a list of illustrious women, and epigrams. There are four epigrams of his in the Greek Anthology.

He was either an Abderite who lived in Samos island or a native Samian. AthenaeusDeipnosophistae Book XIII. p. 590b. speaks of him as either of Samos or of Abdera, and Stephanus of ByzantiumEthnica, Ἅβδηρα mentions him among the celebrated Abderites. AthenaeusDeipnosophistae Book XV. p. 673f. speaks of him in connection with his celebrating a Samian usage, as being a poet of strong native tendencies. From Athenaeusp. 673b we infer that he lived prior to the age of Phylarchus, who wrote in 219 BC. Clinton, F. H. vol. iii. pp. 519, 563.