Platonism, Neo-Platonism, a label to be used with caution: first because Plo ̄tinos did not
aim to create a new interpretation of Plato, “Neo-Platonism,” and second because much
of this is anticipated by earlier Platonists including Noume ̄nios.
Ed.: P. Henry and H.-R. Schwyzer, Plotini Opera (1964–1982).
A. Armstrong, The Architecture of the Intelligible Universe in the Philosophy of Plotinus (1940); RE 21.1 (1951)
471 – 592, H.-R. Schwyzer; H. Blumenthal, Plotinus’ Psychology. His Doctrine of the Embodied Soul (1971);
E. Emilsson, Plotinus on Sense Perception (1988); D.J. O’Meara, Plotinus. An Introduction to the Enneads
(1993); L. Gerson, Plotinus (1994); OCD3 1198 – 1200, J. M. Dillon; P. Hadot, Plotin ou la simplicité du
regard (1997); J. Wilberding, Plotinus’ Cosmology. A Study of Ennead II.1 (40) (2006); BNP 11 (2007)
395 – 403, P. Hadot.
George Karamanolis
Ploutarkhos of Athens, son of Nestorios (d. 432 CE)
Neo-Platonist philosopher from Athens, taught (in his own house) Hierokle ̄s of Alexan-
dria, S, P, and his own daughter Askle ̄pigeneia; was acquainted with
D. He wrote commentaries on P (Gorgias, Phaedo and Parmenides) and
A (at least on De Anim. 3), of which only fragments are preserved in later com-
mentators. His successors, especially Proklos, esteemed him highly, and his work’s main
focus seems to have been harmonizing Platonic and Aristotelian doctrines, partly based on
I. Ploutarkhos was the main source of the revival of Platonism in Athens.
RE 21.2 (1952) 962–975 (#3), R. Beutler; D.P. Taormina, Plutarco di Atene, L’Uno, l’Anima, le Forme
(1989); ECP 429 – 430, H.J. Blumenthal; BNP 11 (2007) 426–427 (#3), H.D. Saffrey.
Cosmin Andron
P K ⇒ P
Plutarch of Khairo ̄neia, L. Mestrius (ca 80 – 120 CE)
Born ca 46, biographer and Platonic philosopher. At the time of Nero’s visit to Greece
(66/67 CE), Plutarch was not older than 20 (De E 385B). Born to a wealthy family, he held
various public offices: a mission to the proconsul of Achaia (Praec. ger. reip. 816B), agoranomos
and eponymous archon in Khairo ̄neia (Quaest. conv. 642F; 693F), Boeotarch, and probably
several times president of the Amphictyony. Hadrian entrusted the government of Greece
to Plutarch (119 CE: E, Chron. 2135 ab Abr.). Trajan elevated him to consular status
(Souda Pi-1794). Plutarch counted influential Romans, such as Sosius Senecio, Fundanus,
and Mestrius Florus, among his friends. Plutarch’s nomen gentilicium Mestrius indicated
Roman citizenship (CIG 1713). With his wife Timoxena he had four sons and a daughter,
who died young, like two of her brothers. Plutarch himself died between 119 and 127.
Plutarch studied under A A in Athens but resided mostly in Khairo ̄neia,
where he established a philosophical school, and in Delphi, where he held a priesthood (at
the latest from the beginning of Hadrian’s reign – cf. CIG 1713 – but probably already long
before: An seni 792F). He traveled to Egypt (Quaest. conv. 678C), Asia Minor (An. an corp.
501E) and several times to Rome (Demosth. 2.2). His extant writings include 50 biographies
(23 parallel lives, Vitae, and lives of Otho, Galba, Aratos and Artaxerxe ̄s) and various other
works belonging to different genres (in modern editions known as Moralia). The dialogues
portray Plutarch’s circle of friends and students.
Plutarch’s philosophy of nature is largely based on P’s Timaeus but is also influenced
PLOUTARKHOS OF ATHENS, SON OF NESTORIOS