Eunapius
Encyclopedia
Eunapius was a Greek
sophist and historian
of the 4th century. His principal surviving work is the Lives of the Sophists, a collection of the biographies of twenty-three philosophers and sophists.
, AD 347. In his native city he studied under his relative, the sophist
Chrysanthius
, and while still a youth went to Athens
, where he became a favourite pupil of Prohaeresius
the rhetoric
ian. He possessed considerable knowledge of medicine. In his later years he seems to have lived at Athens
, teaching rhetoric. Initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries
, he was admitted into the college of the Eumolpidae
and became hierophant
. There is evidence that he was still living in the reign of the younger Theodosius
.
. The former work is still extant; of the latter only excerpts remain, but the facts are largely incorporated in the work of Zosimus
. It embraced the history of events from AD 270–404.
The Lives of the Sophists, a collection of the biographies
of twenty-three older and contemporary philosophers and sophists of the author, is valuable as the only source for the history of the Neoplatonism
of that period. The style of both works is marked by a spirit of bitter hostility to Christianity
. Photius had before him a "new edition" of the history in which the passages most offensive to Christians were omitted.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
sophist and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
of the 4th century. His principal surviving work is the Lives of the Sophists, a collection of the biographies of twenty-three philosophers and sophists.
Life
He was born at SardisSardis
Sardis or Sardes was an ancient city at the location of modern Sart in Turkey's Manisa Province...
, AD 347. In his native city he studied under his relative, the sophist
Sophism
Sophism in the modern definition is a specious argument used for deceiving someone. In ancient Greece, sophists were a category of teachers who specialized in using the tools of philosophy and rhetoric for the purpose of teaching aretê — excellence, or virtue — predominantly to young statesmen and...
Chrysanthius
Chrysanthius
Chrysanthius of Sardis was a Greek philosopher of the 4th century AD who studied at the school of Iamblichus. He was one of the favorite pupils of Aedesius, and devoted himself mainly to the mystical side of Neoplatonism. The emperor Julian went to him by the advice of Aedesius, and subsequently...
, and while still a youth went to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, where he became a favourite pupil of Prohaeresius
Prohaeresius
Prohaeresius was a fourth century Armenian Christian teacher and rhetorician originally from Caesarea who taught in Athens. He was one of the leading sophists of the era along with Diophantus the Arab and Epiphanius of Syria.-Early life:...
the rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
ian. He possessed considerable knowledge of medicine. In his later years he seems to have lived at Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, teaching rhetoric. Initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries
Eleusinian Mysteries
The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis in ancient Greece. Of all the mysteries celebrated in ancient times, these were held to be the ones of greatest importance...
, he was admitted into the college of the Eumolpidae
Eumolpidae
The Eumolpidae were a family of priests at Eleusis who maintained the Eleusinian Mysteries during the Hellenic era. As hierophants, they popularized the cult and allowed many more to be initiated into the secrets of Demeter and Persephone....
and became hierophant
Hierophant
A hierophant is a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed holy. The word comes from Ancient Greece, where it was constructed from the combination of ta hiera, "the holy," and phainein, "to show." In Attica it was the title of the chief priest at the...
. There is evidence that he was still living in the reign of the younger Theodosius
Theodosius II
Theodosius II , commonly surnamed Theodosius the Younger, or Theodosius the Calligrapher, was Byzantine Emperor from 408 to 450. He is mostly known for promulgating the Theodosian law code, and for the construction of the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople...
.
Writing
Eunapius was the author of two works, one entitled Lives of the Sophists, and the other consisting of a continuation of the history of DexippusDexippus
Publius Herennius Dexippus , Greek historian, statesman and general, was an hereditary priest of the Eleusinian family of the Kerykes, and held the offices of archon basileus and eponymous in Athens....
. The former work is still extant; of the latter only excerpts remain, but the facts are largely incorporated in the work of Zosimus
Zosimus
Zosimus was a Byzantine historian, who lived in Constantinople during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I . According to Photius, he was a comes, and held the office of "advocate" of the imperial treasury.- Historia Nova :...
. It embraced the history of events from AD 270–404.
The Lives of the Sophists, a collection of the biographies
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of twenty-three older and contemporary philosophers and sophists of the author, is valuable as the only source for the history of the Neoplatonism
Neoplatonism
Neoplatonism , is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD, based on the teachings of Plato and earlier Platonists, with its earliest contributor believed to be Plotinus, and his teacher Ammonius Saccas...
of that period. The style of both works is marked by a spirit of bitter hostility to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Photius had before him a "new edition" of the history in which the passages most offensive to Christians were omitted.
Further reading
- Philostratus, Lives of the Sophists. Eunapius, Lives of the Philosophers and Sophists. Translated by Wilmer C. Wright. 1921. Loeb Classical Library. ISBN 9780674991491