thumb|right|Funerary inscription for Epaphroditos, [[Diocletian's Baths|Museo Epigrafico, Rome]]
Epaphroditus (Greek: Ἐπαφρόδιτος; born c. 20–25 – died c. 95), was a freedman and secretary of the Roman Emperor Nero. He was later executed by Domitian for failing to prevent Nero's suicide.
Name
His name originates from the Greek language and means "lovely, charming" combined with the name Aphrodite. This is preceded by the Greek preposition 'ep' which simply means 'for' thus indicating that this man was named with the intention of his life being dedicated to or for the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The Romans often gave slaves of Greek origins illustrious names from Greek mythology and culture, for example Claudius's freedman Narcissus, Nero's freedman Polyclitus and Antonia Minor's freedwoman Caenis.
Life
It is not known for certain who Epaphroditus' master was, but it is likely that he was freed by the Emperor Claudius (41–54). Because freedmen received the praenomen and the gentilicium of their former master, but retained their original name as cognomen, the official name of Epaphroditus would have probably been Tiberius Claudius Epaphroditus, to which Augusti libertus ("freedman of the emperor") could be added, if he was indeed emancipated by Claudius.
Epaphroditus was an imperial freedman and secretary (a libellis), which means that he drafted the Emperor Nero's replies to petitions. He is mentioned as apparitor Caesarum, which means that he was some sort of servant of the imperial family, but his specific duties are not mentioned.