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Apollonius of Tyana

c.15–100 · Cappadocia / Roman East
Apollonius of Tyana

Description

Apollonius of Tyana was a Greek philosopher and religious leader from the town of Tyana, Cappadocia in Roman Anatolia, who spent his life travelling and teaching in the Middle East, North Africa and India. He is a central figure in Neopythagoreanism and was one of the most famous "miracle workers" of his day.

Facts

Bornc. AD 15 (disputed), Tyana, Cappadocia, Anatolia (Roman Empire), (now Kemerhisar, Niğde, Turkey)
Diedc. AD 100 (aged c. 85)
OccupationsSage, orator, philosopher
Known forDivination, miracle-work

Life & work in brief

Summarised by section — one row per topic, for fast reading.

Work / contributionSignificance
Life datesApollonius was born into a respected and wealthy aristocratic Greek household.
BiographyWith the exception of the Adana Inscription from the 3rd or 4th century AD, little can be derived from sources other than Philostratus.
WritingsSeveral writings and many letters have been ascribed to Apollonius, but some of them are lost; others have only been preserved in parts or fragments of disputed authenticity.
ImpactIn the 2nd century the satirist Lucian of Samosata was a sharp critic of Neo-Pythagoreanism.