Philostratus, The Life of Apollonius of Tyana: Volume II. Books 6-8. Epistles of Apollonius. Eusebius: Treatise (Loeb Classical Library No. 17) [Hardcover]

Philostratus (Author), Eusebius (Author), F. C. Conybeare (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Loeb Classical Library | Publication Date: June 1912

THIS EDITION HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A NEWER EDITION.

Novel and biography are joined in this literary work with a historical core. Philostratus' life of the first century mystic from Tyana was written at the request of the empress Julia Domna. It portrays a man with supernatural powers, a Pythagorean who predicts the future, cures the sick, raises the dead, and himself prevails over death, ascending to heaven and later appearing to disciples to prove his immortality. The account has a rich and varied setting: Apollonius' ministering carries him throughout the eastern Mediterranean world, as far south as Ethiopia, and eastward to India. Philostratus' Life of Apollonius was long viewed by Christians as a dangerous attempt to set up a Christ-like rival.

This two-volume edition of the Life of Apollonius of Tyana includes, in the second volume, a collection of Apollonius' letters and a treatise by the Christian bishop and historian Eusebius attacking Apollonius as a charlatan.

Also available by Philostratus 'the Athenian' in the Loeb Classical Library is his Lives of the Sophists, a treasury of information about notable sophists that yields a good picture of the predominant influence of Sophistic in the educational, social, and political life of the Empire in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Loeb Classical Library; Revised edition (June 1912)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674990196
• ISBN-13: 978-0674990197
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,224,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Was The Story of Jesus Based On This Man's Life?, December 1, 2001

By 

Tobey H. Llop "Tobiwan" (E. Amherst, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philostratus, The Life of Apollonius of Tyana: Volume II. Books 6-8. Epistles of Apollonius. Eusebius: Treatise (Loeb Classical Library No. 17) (Hardcover)

This biography, published in 217 predates the Council of Nicaea by 108 years. Certainly its author was much closer in time to the events of religious interest that began around 4 B.C.E. than were the gentlemen who put gathered the stories that became the New Testament, used by many religious groups today as the basis of their historical orientation. Further Philostratus had access to many personal letters of Apollonius himself and the memoirs of his long time disciple, Damis, who devotedly wrote down nearly everything Apollonius said. Scholars are still piecing the story of why we've heard so little of Apollonius of Tyana, who lived around 100 years and was well known in his time, and why so many events of his life were attributed to Jesus, of whom almost no one had heard prior to 325. At least there is no reason today, after 1700 years, for this story to remain hidden. Via the miracle the Internet, anyone can order a copy of The Life of Apollonius of Tyana (get both volumes - Amazon doesn't make it clear you need both and sells them separately) and see what ancient spin-doctors didn't want you to see! The original Greek is shown side by side with the English translation in this Harvard University Press edition.

Oh, this just might become part of your own spiritual journey!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A ripping yarn about a unique individual!, September 19, 2005

By 

Stavros (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philostratus, The Life of Apollonius of Tyana: Volume II. Books 6-8. Epistles of Apollonius. Eusebius: Treatise (Loeb Classical Library No. 17) (Hardcover)

The story of the life of Apollonius rings true to me. When I read this volume (and volume one), I got the impression that Apollonius was simply a remarkable individual who sought(and found?) the ideal "way to live". In other words, a true philosopher. A real person like you or I. He was also a campaigner for social reform and an activist of sorts, advising and supporting Roman emperors he believed to be virtuous and actively campaigning against perceived tyrants(ie. Nero). What's not to like(or believe)?

I'd highly recommend both volumes to anyone with an open mind and a critical eye.

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Apollonius II, December 9, 2001

By 

Dave (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philostratus, The Life of Apollonius of Tyana: Volume II. Books 6-8. Epistles of Apollonius. Eusebius: Treatise (Loeb Classical Library No. 17) (Hardcover)

The stories about Jesus' life were known to people long before the year 325. We have huge fragments of the Gospels both cannonical and non-cannonical over a century before the year 325. Some pagan writers such as Celsus and Lucian of Samosata wrote about the founder of Christianity in the late second century. Origen, a Christian teacher in the mid-third century, enjoyed some fame in his time, as is proved by a fragment of the work of the anti-Christian writer Porphyry of Tyre preserved in Eusebius' Church History Book 6 chapter 19, which makes the possiblilty that his teachings about Jesus also became at least somewhat known with him. In the year 300 AD, 25 years before the Council of Nicaea, Christians numbered about 6 million in the Roman Empire, which was about 10% of the Empire's population, and there were at least some Christians located outside of Roman territiory in places like Persia. These numbers are based on evidence that is available concerning Church membership in the early Church. The Gospels were most likely written around the late first and or early second century, ie. within a century of Jesus' death.

This work was interesting. I plan on reading it again eventually. I would recommend it to people who are interested in Greek teachers and their culture.