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

Plotinus Plotinus (; , ''Plōtînos''; – 270 CE) was a Greek Platonist philosopher, born and raised in Roman Egypt. Plotinus is regarded by modern scholarship as the founder of Neoplatonism. His teacher was the self-taught philosopher Ammonius ...

was the founder of a tradition later known as

Neoplatonism Neoplatonism is a version 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 series of thinkers. Among the common id ...

Porphyry

Porphyry, the most important of

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

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

, before travelling to

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

in 262 where he studied under Plotinus for six years. After the death of Plotinus, he edited and published the ''

Enneads The ''Enneads'' (; ), 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 they were founders of Neopla ...

'', 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, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

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 (, ''Noumēnios ho ex Apameias''; ) was a Greek philosopher, who lived in Rome, and flourished during the latter half of the 2nd century AD. He was a Neopythagorean and forerunner of the Neoplatonists. Philosophy Statements ...

, 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 Amelius (; ), whose family name was Gentilianus, was a Neoplatonist philosopher and writer of the second half of the 3rd century. Biography Amelius was a native of Apamea or Tuscany.Porphyry, ''Vit. Plotin.'' 7 Originally a student of the works of ...

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 Porphyry (; , ''Porphyrios'' "purple-clad") may refer to: Geology * Porphyry (geology), an igneous rock with large crystals in a fine-grained matrix, often purple, and prestigious Roman sculpture material * Shoksha porphyry, quartzite of purple c ...

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

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

s 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 version 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 series of thinkers. Among the common 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

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'' (14 ...

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

avarice Greed (or avarice, ) is an insatiable desire for material gain (be it food, money, land, or animate/inanimate possessions) or social value, such as status or power. Nature of greed The initial motivation for (or purpose of) greed and a ...

and

usury Usury () is the practice of making loans that are seen as unfairly enriching 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 charged in e ...

Zethos

Zethos was a 3rd-century

and disciple of

. Porphyry stated of Zethos in the ''Life of Plotinus'', "Another friend was Zethos, an

Arabian The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Geographically, the ...

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 version 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 series of thinkers. Among the common id ...

philosopher and student of

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

Antimachus Antimachus of Colophon (city), Colophon (), or of Claros, was a Greece, 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 poets Panyassis and Stesimb ...

. Zoticus also authored a poem upon the

Atlantis Atlantis () is a fictional island mentioned in Plato's works '' Timaeus'' and ''Critias'' as part of an allegory on the hubris of nations. In the story, Atlantis is described as a naval empire that ruled all Western parts of the known world ...

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 Stephen MacKenna (15 January 1872 – 8 March 1934) was a journalist, linguist and writer of Irish People, Irish descent. He is perhaps most well known for his important English translation of the Greek-speaking philosopher Plotinus ( 204/ ...

. London: Medici Society, 1917–1930. {{DEFAULTSORT:Plotinus Ancient Greek philosophy-related lists

Students A student is a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution, or more generally, a person who takes a special interest in a subject. In the United Kingdom and most commonwealth countries, a "student" attends a secondary school ...

Lists of philosophers