According to Epiphanius of Salamis (Haer. 75; see Anc. 13.8) Aërius was an ascetic in the circle around Eustathius of Sebaste. He was still alive when Epiphanius wrote the Panarion at the end of the 370s CE (Haer. 75.1.3); Filastrius, on the other hand (Haer. 72), appears to take his death for granted, so he must have died before 390 CE.

Epiphanius places Aërius among the followers of Eustathius of Sebaste. It is not known if he could already be counted among these disciples before the Synod of Gangra (c. 340 CE), where Eustathius or rather his radicall…