Priscus (philosopher)

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Priskos (* probably before 305 in Epirus ; † probably 395 or 396) was a late antique philosopher of the Neoplatonic direction. He was a friend and philosophical advisor to Emperor Julian .

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An important source is the information given by Eunapios of Sardis in his book Life Descriptions of the Philosophers and the Sophists . Eunapios treats Priskos relatively briefly. Further information can be found in the letters of Emperor Julian, three of which are addressed to Priskos, as well as in the letters and speeches of the famous speaker Libanios .

Life

Priskos came from Epirus; he was a thesproter or a Molossian . Nothing is known about his family of origin and childhood. He was a student of the respected Neoplatonic philosopher Aidesios in Pergamon in western Asia Minor . Aidesios, a student of the famous neo-Platonist Iamblichus , had opened his own school after his death. Priscus' classmates in Pergamon included the philosophers Maximos of Ephesus , Eusebios of Myndos and Chrysanthios of Sardis . In addition to the teachings of Plato and Aristotle , which were interpreted in the neo-Platonic sense, religious practices ( theurgy ) were also part of the subject matter. Aidesios held Priskos in high regard.

When the future emperor Julian visited Aidesios in Pergamon in 351 to take part in his lessons, Priskos had already completed his studies there and settled in Greece. He lived and taught in Athens and wrote a textbook on the philosophy of Aristotle. In Athens, where Julian was staying for study purposes in the summer of 355, the future emperor's first meeting with Priscus probably took place. Apparently Julian was very impressed by Priskos. Soon after, in November 355, Julian was made Caesar . In December he went to Gaul , where he was responsible for the defense against the Germans. He invited Priscus, with whom he corresponded, to his place. Priskos accepted the invitation and spent some time as an honored guest in Gaul. On his departure, the Caesar wrote a poem for his fame.

After he came to power (361), Julian, who was now trying to renew the old religion on a Neoplatonic basis, wanted to have his philosophical friends in his vicinity. He brought Maximus of Ephesus and Priscus to his court in Constantinople and made them his religious and philosophical advisers; Priskos is said not to have had political competence. When Julian went to Antioch in the summer of 362 to prepare for his Persian campaign , they accompanied him. Priskos succeeded in settling a disagreement between the emperor and the speaker Libanios. Also on the campaign against the Persians (March to June 363) Maximos and Priskos stayed with Julian; with them he had a philosophical conversation before he died on June 26, 363 from the wound he had suffered in battle. In the late autumn of 363 Priskos returned to Antioch.

Under Julian's Christian successor Jovian , who reigned only briefly, Priscus enjoyed the imperial benevolence. After his death, however, he was arrested under the reigning emperors Valentinian I and Valens from 364 onwards , because he was accused of practicing sorcery against the health of the rulers. However, this accusation was unsuccessful; Priskos was allowed to return to Greece. There he resumed teaching and was undisturbed for the rest of his life.

Eunapios emphasizes Priscus' excellent memory and extensive knowledge of the traditional teachings and mentions his aversion to philosophical controversy. Priscus thought controversy was harmful, as it produced bitterness on the weaker side and destroyed the willingness to devote to philosophy. Eunapios shares this view, but seems to be critical of Priskos' extreme secrecy (with regard to confidential parts of the religious-philosophical teachings) and his strong self-confidence.

Priscus was married to a woman named Hippia; the couple had several children.

Source editions

  • Giuseppe Giangrande (ed.): Eunapii vitae sophistarum . Istituto poligrafico dello stato, Rome 1956
  • Bertold K. Weis (Ed.): Julian: Briefe . Heimeran, Munich 1973, pp. 36–41 and 257–260 (three letters from Julian to Priskos), 48–51 and 264f. (Mention of the price)

literature

  • Richard Goulet: Priscus de Thesprotie . In: Richard Goulet (Ed.): Dictionnaire des philosophes antiques , Vol. 5, Part 2, CNRS Éditions, Paris 2012, ISBN 978-2-271-07399-0 , pp. 1528-1539
  • Robert J. Penella: Greek Philosophers and Sophists in the Fourth Century AD Studies in Eunapius of Sardis . Francis Cairns, Leeds 1990, ISBN 0-905205-79-0 , pp. 65-72

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ Arcangela Tedeschi argues for a prominent position of the price : Giuliano e il κοινὸς καθηγεμών . In: Quaderni di storia 31 (62), 2005, pp. 123-129.
  2. ^ Robert J. Penella: Greek Philosophers and Sophists in the Fourth Century AD Studies in Eunapius of Sardis , Leeds 1990, pp. 65–72, here: 70f .; on Priskos' self-confidence and the Platonic tradition of hiding what is not intended for the public, see Garth Fowden: The pagan holy man in late antique society , in: Journal of Hellenic Studies 102, 1982, pp. 33–59, here: 55f.
personal data
SURNAME Prices
BRIEF DESCRIPTION late antique philosopher (neo-platonist)
DATE OF BIRTH before 305
DATE OF DEATH 395 or 396