Porphyry of Tyre (; grc-gre, Πορφύριος, ''Porphýrios''; ar, فُرْفُورِيُوس, ''Furfūriyūs''; – ) was a

Neoplatonic Neoplatonism is a strand of Platonic philosophy that emerged in the 3rd century AD against the background of Hellenistic philosophy and religion. The term does not encapsulate a set of ideas as much as a chain of thinkers. But there are some id ...

philosopher born in Tyre,

Roman Phoenicia Phoenicia under Roman rule describes the Phoenician city states (in the area of modern Lebanon and northern part of northern Galilee and Acre and the Northern Coastal Plain) ruled by Rome from 64 BCE to the Muslim conquests of the 7th century. Th ...

during Roman rule. He edited and published ''

The Enneads The ''Enneads'' ( grc-gre, Ἐννεάδες), fully ''The Six Enneads'', is the collection of writings of the philosopher Plotinus, edited and compiled by his student Porphyry (270). Plotinus was a student of Ammonius Saccas, and together the ...

'', the only collection of the work of

Plotinus Plotinus (; grc-gre, Πλωτῖνος, ''Plōtînos''; – 270 CE) was a philosopher in the Hellenistic philosophy, Hellenistic tradition, born and raised in Roman Egypt. Plotinus is regarded by modern scholarship as the founder of Neop ...

, his teacher. His commentary on

Euclid Euclid (; grc-gre, Wikt:Εὐκλείδης, Εὐκλείδης; BC) was an ancient Greek mathematician active as a geometer and logician. Considered the "father of geometry", he is chiefly known for the ''Euclid's Elements, Elements'' trea ...

's ''Elements'' was used as a source by

Pappus of Alexandria Pappus of Alexandria (; grc-gre, Πάππος ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς; AD) was one of the last great Greek mathematicians of antiquity known for his ''Synagoge'' (Συναγωγή) or ''Collection'' (), and for Pappus's hexagon theorem i ...

. He wrote original works in the Greek language on a wide variety of topics, ranging from

music theory Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory". The first is the "rudiments", that are needed to understand music notation (ke ...

Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...

to vegetarianism. His ''

Isagoge The ''Isagoge'' ( el, Εἰσαγωγή, ''Eisagōgḗ''; ) or "Introduction" to Aristotle's "Categories", written by Porphyry in Greek and translated into Latin by Boethius, was the standard textbook on logic for at least a millennium after his ...

'', or ''Introduction'', an introduction to logic and philosophy, was the standard textbook on

logic Logic is the study of correct reasoning. It includes both formal and informal logic. Formal logic is the science of deductively valid inferences or of logical truths. It is a formal science investigating how conclusions follow from premises ...

throughout the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

in its

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

and

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

translations. Porphyry was, and still is, also well-known for his

anti-Christian Anti-Christian sentiment or Christophobia constitutes opposition or objections to Christians, the Christian religion, and/or its practices. Anti-Christian sentiment is sometimes referred to as Christophobia or Christianophobia, although these terms ...

polemics. Through works such as ''Philosophy from Oracles'' and ''

Against the Christians ''Against the Christians'' ( grc-gre, Κατὰ Χριστιανῶν; ''Adversus Christianos'') is a late-3rd century book written by Roman-Phoenician Neoplatonic philosopher Porphyry of Tyre, criticizing the writings of Christian philosophers ...

'' (which was banned by

Constantine the Great Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to Constantine the Great and Christianity, convert to Christiani ...

), he was involved in a controversy with early Christians.

Biography

The ''

Suda The ''Suda'' or ''Souda'' (; grc-x-medieval, Σοῦδα, Soûda; la, Suidae Lexicon) is a large 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, formerly attributed to an author called Soudas (Σούδας) or Souidas ...

'' (a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia based on many sources now lost) reports that Porphyry was born in Tyre. He was of

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

and native Syrian (

Aramean The Arameans ( oar, 𐤀𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤀; arc, 𐡀𐡓𐡌𐡉𐡀; syc, ܐܪ̈ܡܝܐ, Ārāmāyē) were an ancient Semitic-speaking people in the Near East, first recorded in historical sources from the late 12th century BCE. The Aramean ...

or Phoenician) descent.Macris, Constantinos (2015), ''Porphyry''. Athens: Plato's Encyclopedia His parents named him ''Malkos'' or ''Malchus'' ("King" in the

Semitic languages The Semitic languages are a branch of the Afroasiatic language family. They are spoken by more than 330 million people across much of West Asia, the Horn of Africa, and latterly North Africa, Malta, West Africa, Chad, and in large immigra ...

) though he changed it into the name " Basileus" ("King" in

), and into his

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

"Porphyrius" (lit. "Clad in purple") later in his life. In his work ''The Life of Plotinus'' he refers to

Aramaic The Aramaic languages, short Aramaic ( syc, ܐܪܡܝܐ, Arāmāyā; oar, 𐤀𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤀; arc, 𐡀𐡓𐡌𐡉𐡀; tmr, אֲרָמִית), are a language family containing many varieties (languages and dialects) that originated in ...

as his "native tongue." Under Cassius Longinus, in Athens, he studied

grammar In linguistics, the grammar of a natural language is its set of structure, structural constraints on speakers' or writers' composition of clause (linguistics), clauses, phrases, and words. The term can also refer to the study of such constraint ...

and rhetoric, and got acquainted with

Middle Platonism Middle Platonism is the modern name given to a stage in the development of Platonic philosophy, lasting from about 90 BC – when Antiochus of Ascalon rejected the scepticism of the new Academy – until the development of neoplatonis ...

. In 262 he went to

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, attracted by the reputation of

, and for six years devoted himself to the practice of

Neoplatonism Neoplatonism is a strand of Platonism, Platonic philosophy that emerged in the 3rd century AD against the background of Hellenistic philosophy and Hellenistic religion, religion. The term does not encapsulate a set of ideas as much as a chain of ...

, during which time he severely modified his diet. At one point becoming suicidal. On the advice of Plotinus he went to live in

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

for five years to recover his mental health. On returning to Rome, he lectured on

philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...

and completed an edition of the writings of Plotinus (who had died in the meantime) together with a biography of his teacher.

Iamblichus Iamblichus (; grc-gre, Ἰάμβλιχος ; Aramaic: 𐡉𐡌𐡋𐡊𐡅 ''Yamlīḵū''; ) was a Syrian neoplatonic philosopher of Arabic origin. He determined a direction later taken by neoplatonism. Iamblichus was also the biographer of ...

is mentioned in ancient Neoplatonic writings as his disciple, but this is most likely only meant to indicate that he was the dominant figure in the next generation of philosophers succeeding him. The two men differed publicly on the issue of

theurgy Theurgy (; ) describes the practice of rituals, sometimes seen as magical in nature, performed with the intention of invoking the action or evoking the presence of one or more deities, especially with the goal of achieving henosis (uniting w ...

. In his later years, he married Marcella, a widow with seven children and an enthusiastic student of philosophy. Little more is known of his life, and the date of his death is uncertain.

''Introduction'' (''Isagoge'')

Porphyry is best known for his contributions to philosophy. Apart from writing the ''Aids to the Study of the Intelligibles'' (Ἀφορμαὶ πρὸς τὰ νοητά; ''Sententiae Ad Intelligibilia Ducentes''), a basic summary of Neoplatonism, he is especially appreciated for his ''Introduction to Categories'' (''Introductio in Praedicamenta'' or ''Isagoge et in Aristotelis Categorias commentarium''), a very short work often considered to be a commentary on

Aristotle Aristotle (; grc-gre, Ἀριστοτέλης ''Aristotélēs'', ; 384–322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, he was the founder of the Peripatetic school of phil ...

's ''

Categories Category, plural categories, may refer to: Philosophy and general uses *Categorization, categories in cognitive science, information science and generally *Category of being * ''Categories'' (Aristotle) *Category (Kant) * Categories (Peirce) * ...

'', hence the title. According to , however, the correct title is simply ''Introduction'' (Εἰσαγωγή ''Isagoge''), and the book is an introduction not to the ''Categories'' in particular, but to ''logic'' in general, comprising as it does the theories of predication, definition, and proof. The Introduction describes how qualities attributed to things may be classified, famously breaking down the philosophical concept of substance into the five components ''genus'', ''species'', ''difference'', ''property'', ''accident''. As Porphyry's most influential contribution to philosophy, the ''Introduction to Categories'' incorporated Aristotle's logic into Neoplatonism, in particular the doctrine of the categories of being interpreted in terms of entities (in later philosophy, "

universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a ...

").

Boethius Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, commonly known as Boethius (; Latin: ''Boetius''; 480 – 524 AD), was a Roman senator, consul, ''magister officiorum'', historian, and philosopher of the Early Middle Ages. He was a central figure in the tr ...

' ''Isagoge'', a Latin translation of Porphyry's "Introduction", became a standard medieval textbook in European schools and universities, which set the stage for medieval philosophical-theological developments of logic and the

problem of universals The problem of universals is an ancient question from metaphysics that has inspired a range of philosophical topics and disputes: Should the properties an object has in common with other objects, such as color and shape, be considered to exist be ...

. In medieval textbooks, the all-important ''

Arbor porphyriana The Tree of Porphyry (also known as ''scala praedicamentalis'') is a classic device for illustrating what is also called a "scale of being". It was suggested—if not first, then most famously in the European philosophical tradition—by the 3rd ...

'' ("Porphyrian Tree") illustrates his logical classification of substance. To this day, taxonomy benefits from concepts in Porphyry's Tree, in classifying living organisms (see

cladistics Cladistics (; ) is an approach to biological classification in which organisms are categorized in groups (" clades") based on hypotheses of most recent common ancestry. The evidence for hypothesized relationships is typically shared derived char ...

). The ''Introduction'' was translated into Arabic by

Abd-Allāh Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ Abū Muhammad ʿAbd Allāh Rūzbih ibn Dādūya ( ar, ابو محمد عبدالله روزبه ابن دادويه), born Rōzbih pūr-i Dādōē ( fa, روزبه پور دادویه), more commonly known as Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ ( ar, ابن الم� ...

from a Syriac version. With the Arabicized name ''Isāghūjī'' (إيساغوجي) it long remained the standard introductory logic text in the Muslim world and influenced the study of theology, philosophy, grammar, and jurisprudence. Besides the adaptations and epitomes of this work, many independent works on logic by Muslim philosophers have been entitled Isāghūjī. Porphyry's discussion of ''accident'' sparked a long-running debate on the application of ''accident'' and ''essence''.

''Philosophy from Oracles'' (''De Philosophia ex Oraculis Haurienda'')

Porphyry is also known as an opponent of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

and defender of

Paganism Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christianity, early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions ot ...

; his precise contribution to the philosophical approach to traditional religion may be discovered in the fragments of ''Philosophy from Oracles'' (Περὶ τῆς ἐκ λογίων φιλοσοφίας; ''De Philosophia ex Oraculis Haurienda''), which was originally three books in length. There is debate as to whether it was written in his youth (as Eunapius reports) or closer in time to the persecutions of Christians under

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

and

Galerius Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus (; 258 – May 311) was Roman emperor from 305 to 311. During his reign he campaigned, aided by Diocletian, against the Sasanian Empire, sacking their capital Ctesiphon in 299. He also campaigned across th ...

. Whether or not Porphyry was the pagan philosopher opponent in Lactantius' ''Divine Institutes'', written at the time of the persecutions, has long been discussed. The fragments of the ''Philosophy from Oracles'' are only quoted by Christians, especially

Eusebius Eusebius of Caesarea (; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος ; 260/265 – 30 May 339), also known as Eusebius Pamphilus (from the grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος τοῦ Παμφίλου), was a Greek historian of Christianity, exegete, and Christian ...

Theodoret Theodoret of Cyrus or Cyrrhus ( grc-gre, Θεοδώρητος Κύρρου; AD 393 – 458/466) was an influential theologian of the School of Antioch, biblical commentator, and Christian bishop of Cyrrhus (423–457). He played a pi ...

Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berbers, Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia (Roman pr ...

, and

John Philoponus John Philoponus (Greek: ; ; c. 490 – c. 570), also known as John the Grammarian or John of Alexandria, was a Byzantine Greek philologist, Aristotelian commentator, Christian theologian and an author of a considerable number of philosophical tre ...

. The fragments contain oracles identifying proper sacrificial procedure, the nature of

astrological Astrology is a range of divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. Dif ...

fate, and other topics relevant for Greek and Roman religion in the third century. Whether this work contradicts his treatise defending vegetarianism, which also warned the philosopher to avoid animal sacrifice, is disputed among scholars.

''Against the Christians'' (''Adversus Christianos'')

During his retirement in

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

, Porphyry wrote ''Against the Christians'' (Κατὰ Χριστιανῶν; ''Adversus Christianos'') which consisted of fifteen books. Some thirty Christian apologists, such as Methodius,

, Apollinaris,

Jerome Jerome (; la, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian presbyter, priest, Confessor of the Faith, confessor, th ...

, etc., responded to his challenge. In fact, everything known about Porphyry's arguments is found in these refutations, largely because

Theodosius II Theodosius II ( grc-gre, Θεοδόσιος, Theodosios; 10 April 401 – 28 July 450) was Roman emperor for most of his life, proclaimed ''Augustus (title), augustus'' as an infant in 402 and ruling as the eastern Empire's sole emperor after ...

ordered every copy burned in AD 435 and again in 448.

and the 5th-century ecclesiastical historian

Socrates of Constantinople Socrates of Constantinople ( 380 – after 439), also known as Socrates Scholasticus ( grc-gre, Σωκράτης ὁ Σχολαστικός), was a 5th-century Greek Christian church historian, a contemporary of Sozomen and Theodoret. He is the ...

, assert that Porphyry was once a Christian.

Other subjects

Porphyry was opposed to the

of his disciple

. Much of Iamblichus' mysteries is dedicated to the defense of mystic theurgic divine possession against the critiques of Porphyry. French philosopher

Pierre Hadot Pierre Hadot (; ; 21 February 1922 – 24 April 2010) was a French philosopher and historian of philosophy specializing in ancient philosophy, particularly Neoplatonism. Life In 1944, Hadot was ordained, but following Pope Pius XII’s e ...

maintains that for Porphyry, spiritual exercises are an essential part of spiritual development. Porphyry was, like

Pythagoras Pythagoras of Samos ( grc, Πυθαγόρας ὁ Σάμιος, Pythagóras ho Sámios, Pythagoras the Samos, Samian, or simply ; in Ionian Greek; ) was an ancient Ionians, Ionian Ancient Greek philosophy, Greek philosopher and the eponymou ...

, an advocate of vegetarianism on spiritual and ethical grounds. These two philosophers are perhaps the most famous vegetarians of classical antiquity. He wrote the ' (Περὶ ἀποχῆς ἐμψύχων; ''De Abstinentia ab Esu Animalium''), advocating against the consumption of animals, and he is cited with approval in vegetarian literature up to the present day. Porphyry also wrote widely on

astrology Astrology is a range of Divination, divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of Celestial o ...

, religion, and philosophy. He produced a ''History of Philosophy'' (''Philosophos historia'') with '' vitae'' of philosophers that included a life of his teacher, Plotinus. His life of Plato from book iv exists only in quotes by Cyril of Alexandria. His book ''Vita Pythagorae'' on the life of

is not to be confused with the book of the same name by

. His commentary on Ptolemy's ''Harmonics'' (''Eis ta Harmonika Ptolemaiou hypomnēma'') is an important source for the history of ancient harmonic theory. Porphyry also wrote about

. Apart from several lost texts known only from quotations by other authors, two texts survive at least in large parts: the ''Homerian Questions'' (''Homēriká zētḗmata'', largely a philological comment on the Iliad and Odyssey) and ''

On the Cave of the Nymphs in the Odyssey ''On the Cave of the Nymphs in the Odyssey'' ( grc, Περὶ τοῦ ἐν Ὀδυσσείᾳ τῶν νυμφῶν ἄντρου, la, De Antro Nympharum) is a treatise by the Neoplatonist philosopher Porphyry. It is an exegesis of a passag ...

'' (''Peri tou en Odysseia tōn nymphōn antrou'').

Extant works

* ''Life of Plotinus''. Editions: Luc Brisson, ''La Vie de Plotin''. Histoire de l'antiquité classique 6 & 16, Paris: Librairie Philosophique J. Vrin: 1986–1992, 2 vols; A. H. Armstrong, ''Plotinus'', Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1968, pp. 2–84. Translation: ''Neoplatonic Saints: The Lives of Plotinus and Proclus''. Translated Texts for Historians 35 (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2000). * ''Life of Pythagoras''. Edition: E. des Places, ''Vie de Pythagore, Lettre à Marcella'', Paris: Les Belles Lettre, 1982. * Introduction to Aristotle's ''

'' (''Isagoge''). Translations: E. Warren, ''Isagoge'', Mediaeval Sources in Translation 16, Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1975; J. Barnes, ''Porphyry's Introduction''. Translation of the 'Isagoge' with a Commentary, Oxford, 2003; Steven K. Strange, ''Porphyry. On Aristotle's Categories'', Ithaca, New York, 1992; Octavius Freire Owen, ''The Organon or Logical Treatises of Aristotle with the Introduction of Porphyry''. Bohn's Classical Library 11–12, London: G. Bell, 1908–1910, 2 vols; Paul Vincent Spade, ''Five Texts on the Mediaeval Problem of Universals: Porphyry, Boethius, Abelard, Duns Scotus, Ockham'', Indianapolis: Hackett, 1994. * Introduction to the ''

Tetrabiblos ''Tetrabiblos'' () 'four books', also known in Greek as ''Apotelesmatiká'' () "Effects", and in Latin as ''Quadripartitum'' "Four Parts", is a text on the philosophy and practice of astrology, written in the 2nd century AD by the Alexandrian ...

'' of Ptolemy. Editions: Stefan Weinstock, in: Franz Cumont (ed.), ''Catalogus Codicum astrologorum Graecorum'', (Brussels, 1940): V.4, 187–228; ''Kommentar zur Harmonielehre des Ptolemaios'' Ingemar Düring. ed. (Göteborg: Elanders, 1932). Translation: James Herschel Holden, ''Porphyry the Philosopher, Introduction to the Tetrabiblos and Serapio of Alexandria, Astrological Definitions'', Tempe, Az.: A.F.A., Inc., 2009. * ''Against the Christians'' (''Contra Christianos''). Editions: A. Ramos Jurado, J. Ritoré Ponce, A. Carmona Vázquez, I. Rodríguez Moreno, J. Ortolá Salas, J. M. Zamora Calvo (eds), ''Contra los Cristianos: Recopilación de Fragmentos, Traducción, Introducción y Notas'' – (Cádiz: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Cádiz 2006);

Adolf von Harnack Carl Gustav Adolf von Harnack (born Harnack; 7 May 1851 – 10 June 1930) was a Baltic German Lutheran theologian and prominent Church historian. He produced many religious publications from 1873 to 1912 (in which he is sometimes credited ...

, ''Porphyrius, "Gegen die Christen," 15 Bücher: Zeugnisse, Fragmente und Referate.'' Abhandlungen der königlich preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften: Jahrgang 1916: philosoph.-hist. Klasse: Nr. 1 (Berlin: 1916). Translations: R. M. Berchman, ''Porphyry Against the Christians'', Ancient Mediterranean and Medieval Texts and Contexts 1, Leiden: Brill, 2005; R. Joseph Hoffmann, ''Porphyry’s Against the Christians: The Literary Remains'', Amherst: Prometheus Books, 1994. * Commentary on Plato's Timaeus. Edition: A. R. Sodano, Porphyrii in Platonis Timaeum commentarium fragmenta'', Napoli: 1964. * ''Homeric Questions''. Edition: ''The Homeric Questions: a Bilingual Edition'' – Lang Classical Studies 2, R. R. Schlunk, trans. (Frankfurt-am-Main: Lang, 1993). * ''On the caves of the nymphs'' (''De antro nympharum''). Edition: ''The Cave of the Nymphs in the Odyssey. A revised text with translation'' by Seminar Classics 609, State University of New York at Buffalo, Arethusa Monograph 1 (Buffalo: Dept. of Classics, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1969). Translation: Robert Lamberton, ''On the Cave of the Nymphs'', Barrytown, N. Y.: Station Hill Press, 1983. * ''On the abstinence of eating animals'' (''De abstinentia ab esu animalium''). Edition: Jean Bouffartigue, M. Patillon, and Alain-Philippe Segonds, edd., 3 vols., Budé (Paris, 1979–1995). Translation: Gillian Clark, ''On Abstinence from Killing Animals'', Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000. * ''On philosophy from oracles'' (''De Philosophia ex oraculis haurienda''). Edition: G. Wolff, Berlin: 1856; Porphyrii Philosophi fragmenta, ed. by Andrew Smith, Stuttgart and Leipzig, Teubner 1993. * ''Aids to the Study of the Intelligibles'' (''Sententiae ad Intelligibilia Ducentes''). Edition: E. Lamberz, Leipzig: Teubner, 1975. Translation: K. Guthrie, ''Launching-Points to the Realm of Mind'', Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1988. * ''Letter to Marcella''. Edition: Kathleen O’Brien Wicker, ''Porphyry, the Philosopher, to Marcella: Text and Translation with Introduction and Notes'' , Text and Translations 28; Graeco-Roman Religion Series 10 (Atlanata: Scholars Press, 1987); ''Pros Markellan'' Griechischer Text, herausgegeben, übersetzt, eingeleitet und erklärt von W. Pötscher (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1969). Translation:

Alice Zimmern Alice Louisa Theodora Zimmern (22 September 1855 – 22 March 1939) was an English writer, translator and suffragist. Her books made a significant contribution to debate on the education and rights of women. Early years and education Zimmern wa ...

, ''Porphyry's Letter to His Wife Marcella Concerning the Life of Philosophy and the Ascent to the Gods'', Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1989. * ''Letter to Anebo'' (''Epistula ad Anebonem''). Edition: A. R. Sodano, Naples: L'arte Tipografia: 1958.

Lost works

* ''Ad Gedalium'', a lost commentary on Aristotle's ''Categories'' in seven books. The ''testimonia'' are published in Andrew Smith (ed.), ''Porphyrius, Porphyrii Philosophi fragmenta. Fragmenta Arabica David Wasserstein interpretante'', Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1993. *''A Treatise concerning the Secret Doctrines of the Philosophers.'' Mentioned by Eunapius according to John Toland in "Clidophorus, or of the Exoteric and Esoteric Philosophy." Eunapius says that Porphyry "commended the medicine of perspicuity, and tasting it by experience, wrote "A Treatise concerning the Secret Doctrines of the Philosophers", which they involv'd in obscurity, as in the Fables of the Poets, but which he brought to light."

Works of uncertain attribution

* ''Ad Gaurum'' (of uncertain attribution). Edition: K. Kalbfleisch. Abhandlungen der Preussischen Akadamie der Wissenschaft. phil.-hist. kl. (1895)
33-62
Translation: J. Wilberding, ''To Gaurus On How Embryos are Ensouled'', ''and On What is in our Power''. ''Ancient Commentators on Aristotle'' Series, R. Sorabji (ed.), Bristol: Classical Press, 2011. * #6 and #9 in ''Corpus dei Papiri Filosofici Greci e Latini III: Commentari'' – (Florence: Leo S. Olschki, 1995) may or may not be by Porphyry.

Editions and translations of multiple works

* Translations of several fragments are contained in Appendix 1 of ''Religion and Identity in Porphyry of Tyre'' by Aaron Johnson (Cambridge, 2013). * ''Select Works of Porphyry''. Translated by T. Taylor (Guildford, 1994). Contains ''Abstinence from Eating Animal Food'', the ''Sententiae'' and the ''Cave of the Nymphs''. * Fragments: Andrew Smith, Stvtgardiae et Lipsiae: B. G. Tevbneri, 1993. * ''Opuscula selecta'' Augusts Nauck, ed. (Lipsiae: B. G. Tevbneri, 1886) (online a
archive.org
.

References

Footnotes

Citations

Sources

* * * * Beutler, R. (1894–1980). "Porphyrios (21)" in A. Pauly, G. Wissowa, W. Kroll, K. Witte, K. Mittelhaus and K. Ziegler, eds., ''Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft'', vol. 22.1. * * * also available a
tertullian.org
* * * * * * * * * * *

External links

* * * *
Porphyry Malchus (mathematician)
– entry in MacTutor History of Maths Archives. * .

* [https://www.astrologicon.org/porphyry/porphyry-introduction-to-apotelesmatics-of-ptolemy.html Εἰσαγωγὴ εἰς τὴν Ἀποτελεσματικὴν τοῦ Πτολεμαίου (''Introduction to Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos''), original Greek text.]
Porphyry, ''On Abstinence from Animal Food'', Book I
translated by Thomas Taylor.
Porphyry, ''On Abstinence from Animal Food'', Book II
translated by Thomas Taylor.

translated by Thomas Taylor.

translated by Thomas Taylor.

translated by Thomas Taylor.

translated by Thomas Taylor.

translated by

Octavius Freire Owen Octavius Freire Owen FSA (13 March 1816 – 16 April 1873) was an English scholastic Aristotelian philosopher, translator, and clergyman, rector of Burstow, Surrey; and domestic chaplain to the Duke of Portland. Owen was married to the Eng ...

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''The Isagoge, or Introduction of Porphyry''
translated by Thomas Taylor with an extensive preface by the translator.

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Porphyry 234 births 305 deaths 3rd-century Romans 4th-century Romans 3rd-century philosophers Commentators on Aristotle Commentators on Plato Pagan anti-Gnosticism Late Antique writers Neoplatonists Roman-era philosophers Roman-era students in Athens People from Tyre, Lebanon Phoenician philosophers Critics of Christianity Critics of Judaism Historians of Phoenicia 3rd-century Phoenician people Converts to pagan religions from Christianity Ancient Greek music theorists