Abstract

Plutarch of Chaeroneia, Platonist philosopher, biographer and antiquarian, was born to a family of local aristocrats in the small town of Chaeroneia in Boeotia in about 45 CE. He studied philosophy in Athens under Ammonius, a Platonist philosopher from Egypt, who had settled in Athens and had become prominent in Athenian society. He travelled widely around the Mediterranean, visiting Asia Minor and Egypt, and made a number of visits to Rome, beginning in the 90s, where he gave lectures and became acquainted with many prominent Romans, including Q. Sosius Senecio and L. Mestrius Florus (whose name he adopted on becoming a Roman citizen). In later years he retired to Chaeroneia, where he formed a philosophical circle and composed most of his works. He was also closely connected with Delphi, of whose priesthood he was a member. In his old age, he was bestowed by the Emperor Hadrian with the honorary position of Procurator of Achaea. He died about 120 CE.