Thestorides of Phocaea (Greek:Θεστορίδης) was a legendary or semi-legendaryearly Greek poet, one of those to whom the epicLittle Iliad was ascribed.

Thestorides figures as a major character in the fictionalLife of Homer fraudulently ascribed toHerodotus. According to this, whenHomer came toPhocaea Thestorides offered him food and lodging in exchange for the right to record his poetry inwriting. Homer had little choice but to accept, and recited to Thestorides theIliad, theOdyssey and also an epic on local history and legend,Phocais. This story is unique among the ancient legends concerning Homer as it embodies the claim that writing was known in Homer's circle; all other sources state or imply that Homer's poems were transmitted orally to his followers or descendants. TheLife adds that Thestorides afterwards moved toChios, where he performed Homer's poems as if they were his own and became famous. Homer heard rumours of this and eventually travelled to Chios also; Thestorides, threatened with disgrace, left the island hastily.

• Dalby, Andrew (2006),Rediscovering Homer, New York, London: Norton,ISBN 0-393-05788-7
• Lefkowitz, Mary R. (1981),The lives of the Greek poets, London: Duckworth,ISBN 0-7156-1590-4

• Epic poetry collectors
• Early Greek epic poets
• Ancient Phocaeans

• Articles containing Greek-language text