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Common Roman cognomen ('venerable') . Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [1] Greek grammarian (Πρεῖσκος/ Preîskos). The 3rd cent. AD PTurner 39 (PIenensis inv. 267), a book catalogue from a private library, presents at line 4 'a commentary on epic verses by P.' [2], who is identified as one of the two Prisci mentioned in Ov. Pont. 4,16,10 ( Priscus uter); he may be identical to Clutorius Priscus, the Roman equestrian and poet mentioned in Tac. Ann. 3,49 and Cass. Dio 57,20,3-4. Fornaro, Sotera (Sassari) Bibliography 1 SH 710 A 2 R. Otranto, Antiche liste di libri su papiro, 2000, 73-77 (with bibliogr.). [German version] [2] L. P. Proclaimed emperor in Philippopolis in AD 250 May be identical to T. Iulius P., the governor of Thrace (AE 1932, 28 = SEG 7,784 [1. 103 f. note 4]). In AD 250 he was proclaimed emperor by his troops in Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv), which was under siege by the Goths  - possibly by arrangement with them - when relief by the emperor Decius [II 1] failed to turn up [2. 111, 162]. In negotiations with the Goths, surre…

(Ἱέραξ; Hiérax). [German version] [1] H. of Antiochia, strategos of Ptolemy VI after 146 BC H. of Antiochia, deserted Demetrius [7] I for Alexander [13] Balas (Diod. Sic. 33,3), and then deserted him in 146 BC for Ptolemy VI, whom he had proclaimed king by the Antiochenes (Diod. Sic. 32,9 c). He had a high position at the court and, as strategos (?) of Ptolemy VIII, he foiled the uprising of  Galestes, but then was eliminated by the king (Diod. Sic. 33,22; FGrH 87 F 4). PP 1/8,264; 2, 2163; 6, 17012. Ameling, Walter (Jena) [German version] [2] Commander in chief of Ptolemy IX in 88 BC Sent by Ptolemy…

(Δαμάσκιος; Damáskios) [German version] A. Life Neoplatonist, last head of the  Academy in Athens, born around AD 462 in Damascus, studied rhetoric around 479/80 with a certain Theon in Alexandria and there also was a member of the Platonist circle. Around 482/3 he went to Athens to teach rhetoric. Around 491/2 he gave up this career and initially studied propaedeutic sciences under  Marinus, who had succeeded Proclus in 485, then philosophy under  Zenodotus. Around 515 Damascius returned to Athens to…

(Ἡγίας; Hēgías). [German version] [1] Sculptor, c. 490-480 BC …

(Ἰάμβλιχος; Iámblichos). Personal name (regarding the form cf. [1]). [German version] [1] Syro-Arab ruler, middle of 1st cent. BC I., Syro-Arab ruler, probably identical with Phylarchus I of Arethusa and Emesa who was mentioned by Cicero (Fam. 15,1; 2). He was executed in 31 BC outside Actium in the army of Anthony. In…

(Εὐστάθιος; Eustáthios). [German version] [1] from Caria Rhetor of the 4th cent. AD, imperial administrator, consularis Syriae Rhetor of the 4th cent. AD; studied in Athens and later settled in Tyre. He held many offices in the imperial administration, and used them to enrich himself (i.a.: rationalis summarum per orientem), in 388 he was consularis Syriae. He was at first a friend of  Libanius (panegyric: Lib. Or. 44), later his enemy (diatribe: Or. 54, cf. also Or. 1,271-275). There is no other witness apart from Libanius. Weißenberger, Michael (Greifswald)…

[German version] I. Greek (Μάξιμος; Máximos) [German version] [I 1] Maximus of Tyre Author of lectures mainly on ethics and theology, 2nd cent. AD, [1] Maximus of Tyrus AD 2nd cent.; author of 41 short dialéxeis (lectures), according to the most important MS (Cod. Parisinus graecus 1962) delivered in Rome (the Suda dates a visit to the reign of Commodus, AD 180-191). His concepts are simple yet rhetorically sophisticated (frequent use of comparisons, quotations from poetry, mythological and historical examples); his main topic is ethics, but he also touches on physics, theology and epistemology, e.g. pleasure ( …

I. Greece [German version] A. Terminology In ancient Greek, the term phýsis (φύσις, ‘nature’) is a nomen actionis derived from the root * bhu- (which probably implies the idea of coming into being, growth and development). It first of all denotes the state that results from the spontaneous development of a living being: hence the meanings of ‘size’, ‘stature’, or ‘appearance’, all of which point towards the more general meaning of ‘innate bodily characteristics’. Phýsis is thus opposed to téchnē (τέχνη, art), which refers to any competence acquired in various domains of human activity. Phýsis thus came to designate a primary and original way of being. Brisson, Luc (Paris) [German version] B. First Attestations Whereas only one instance of phýsis is recorded in Homeric poetry (Hom. Od. 10,303), an increasing use of the term can observed in Pindar, Aeschylus, Sophoc…

(Ὀλυμπιόδωρος; Olympiódōros). [German version] …

[German version] (Νεμέσιος/ Nemésios). Bishop of Emesa (present-day Homs) in Syria, possibly identical with the governor of Cappadocia, to whom…

[German version] (Θεοσέβιος; Theosébios). Neo-Platonic philosopher of the 5th cent. AD, known only through Damascius. According to the latter's Life of Isidorus (Phot. 56-59 and fr. 109-110 Zintzen = 45…

[German version] I Greek (Θεόδωρος; Theódōros). [German version] [I 1] Of Samos, Greek architect, bronze sculptor and inventor, Archaic period Multitalented Greek inventor, architect, bronze sculptor and metal worker ( toreutḗs; Toreutics) of the Archaic period from Samos (for the occupational image cf. architect). His father was Telecles (Hdt. 3,41; Paus. 8,14,8; 10,38,6) or according to other sources (Diog. Laert. 2,103; Diod. Sic. 1,98) Rhoecus [3]; his name is so frequently mentioned in conjunction with the latter that …

[German version] (Πρισκιανός Λυδός/ Priskianós Lydós). Neoplatonist of the 6th cent. AD, from Lydia. According to Agathias (II 30-31 = Suda, s. v. Πρέσβεις, Vol. 4, p. 192,18-29 Adler), P. was part of the group of philosophers who (along with Simplicius and Damascius) adhered to the old religion…

(Σαλούστιος; Saloústios). [German version] [1] Greek grammarian Greek grammarian (perhaps 4th/5th cents. AD [3. 31]); author of a com…

[German version] (Ἑρκουλιανός; Herkoulaniós). Neoplatonist philosopher, died about AD 408. Only known from letters that his friend  Synesius wrote to him (137-146 Garyza). They lived together in Alexandria. Both attended lectures by  Hypatia, who introduced them to the works of Plotinus, Porphyrius and Iamblichus. Brisson, Luc…

[German version] Originally from Etruria, which explains his cognomen Gentilianus. ‘Amelius’ is actually a nickname ( supernomen) kept as forename. Plotinus wanted to call him Amerius (Porph. Plot. 7,1-5). A. was born between AD 216 and 226. He began his philosophical studies under the Stoic Lysimachus (Plot. 3,42-43). His admiration for Numenius brought him to a kind of Neoplatonism that was closely and substantially linked to  Neopythagoreanism. A. was part of the group under Plotinus in Rome from AD 246 until his departu…