The following is a list of disciples of Plotinus. The philosopher

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

was the founder of the school known as

Neoplatonism 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 i ...

Porphyry

Porphyry, the most important of

's pupils, was born in Tyre c. 233. He was taught first by Cassius Longinus in

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

, before travelling 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 ...

in 262 where he studied under Plotinus for six years. After the death of Plotinus, 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 th ...

'', which had been compiled by his teacher. He also wrote a biography of his teacher, and many commentaries and philosophical works, some of which survive and is famous for his attacks on

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 ...

compiled in his ''Adversus Christianos'', of which only fragments preserved by his Christian opponents remain.

Amelius

Amelius was originally a student of the works of

Numenius of Apamea Numenius of Apamea ( grc-gre, Νουμήνιος ὁ ἐξ Ἀπαμείας, ''Noumēnios ho ex Apameias''; la, Numenius Apamensis) was a Greek philosopher, who lived in Apamea in Syria and Rome, and flourished during the latter half of the 2 ...

, before attending the lectures of Plotinus in the third year after Plotinus came to

, and never left him until the end of his life. Amelius read and wrote voraciously, writing over 100 volumes of sayings and commentaries, none of which survive. His most important convert to Neoplatonism was Porphyry.Porphyry, ''Vita Plotini'', 1–5, 7, 10, 16–22

Castricius Firmus

Castricius Firmus was a 3rd-century neoplatonist and disciple of

.Porphyry, ''Vita Plotini'', 2, 7 Plotinus was on the most familiar terms with him ( Zethos), and used to stay with him at his country place, six miles from Minturnae, a property which had formerly belonged to Castricius Firmus. Porphyry stated of Castricius Firmus in the ''Life of Plotinus'', "Castricius was excelled by none of the group in appreciation of the finer side of life: he venerated Plotinus; he devoted himself in the most faithful comradeship to Amelius in every need, and was in all matters as loyal to myself as though I were his own brother."

Eustochius of Alexandria

Eustochius of Alexandria was a 3rd-century neoplatonic philosopher and student of

. Porphyry stated in the ''Life of Plotinus'', "Among closer personal friends was Eustochius of Alexandria, also a doctor, who came to know Plotinus towards the end of his life, and attended him until his death: Eutochius consecrated himself exclusively to Plotinus' system and became a veritable philosopher."

Marcellus Orontius and Sabinillus

Senators Marcellus Orontius and Sabinillus were 3rd century neoplatonists and disciples of

.Porphyry, ''Vita Plotini'', 7 Porphyry stated of them in the ''Life of Plotinus'', "There were also among Plotinus' hearers not a few members of the Senate, amongst whom Marcellus Orontius and Sabinillus showed the greatest assiduity in philosophical studies."

Paulinus

Paulinus was a 3rd-century

neoplatonist 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 ...

and disciple of

. Porphyry stated of Paulinus in the ''Life of Plotinus'', "The group included also one Paulinus, a doctor of Scythopolis, whom Amelius used to call Mikkalos in allusion to his blundering habit of mind."

Rogatianus

Rogatianus was a 3rd-century neoplatonist and disciple of

. Porphyry stated of Rogatianus in the ''Life of Plotinus''. "Another Senator, Rogatianus, advanced to such detachment from political ambitions that he gave up all his property, dismissed all his slaves, renounced every dignity, and, on the point of taking up his praetorship, the lictors already at the door, refused to come out or to have anything to do with the office. He even abandoned his own house, spending his time here and there at this friends' and acquaintances', sleeping and eating with them and taking, at that, only one meal every other day. He had been a victim of gout, carried in a chair, but this new regime of abstinence and abnegation restored his health: he had been unable to stretch out his hands; he came to use them as freely as men living by manual labour. Plotinus took a great liking to Rogatianus and frequently praised him very highly, holding him up as a model to those aiming at the philosophical life."

Serapion

Serapion was a 3rd-century neoplatonic philosopher and student of

. Porphyry wrote of Serapion in the ''Life of Plotinus'' that "Then there was Serapion, an Alexandrian, who began life as a professional

orator An orator, or oratist, is a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled. Etymology Recorded in English c. 1374, with a meaning of "one who pleads or argues for a cause", from Anglo-French ''oratour'', Old French ''orateur'' (14th ...

and later took to the study of philosophy, but was never able to conquer the vices of avarice and

usury Usury () is the practice of making unethical or immoral monetary loans that unfairly enrich the lender. The term may be used in a moral sense—condemning taking advantage of others' misfortunes—or in a legal sense, where an interest rate is c ...

Zethos

Zethos was a 3rd-century

and disciple of

. Porphyry stated of Zethos in the ''Life of Plotinus'', "Another friend was Zethos, an Arabian by descent, who married a daughter of Ammonius' friend Theodosius. Zethos, too, was a doctor. Plotinus was deeply attached to him and was always trying to divert him from the political career in which he stood high. Plotinus was on the most familiar terms with him, and used to stay with him at his country place, six miles from Minturnae, a property which had formerly belonged to Castricius Firmus."

Zoticus

Zoticus was a 3rd-century

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 and student of

. Porphyry stated in the ''Life of Plotinus'', Zoticus was a critic and poet, who also amended the text of

Antimachus Antimachus of Colophon ( el, Ἀντίμαχος ὁ Κολοφώνιος), or of Claros, was a Greek poet and grammarian, who flourished about 400 BC. Life Scarcely anything is known of his life. The Suda claims that he was a pupil of the p ...

. Zoticus also authored a poem upon the

Atlantis Atlantis ( grc, Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος, , island of Atlas) is a fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato's works '' Timaeus'' and '' Critias'', wherein it represents the antagonist naval power that b ...

story. His sight failed, and he died a little before Plotinus, as also did Paulinus.

Notes

References

*Porphyry
''Life of Plotinus''
translated by Stephen MacKenna. London: Medici Society, 1917–1930. {{DEFAULTSORT:Disciples Of Plotinus 3rd-century Romans 3rd-century philosophers 3rd-century writers Neoplatonists Roman-era philosophers Pagan anti-Gnosticism Plotinus