He started the neoplatonic school in alexandria in the year 193 a. Ammonius was born under the learned emperor and legal codifier theodosius ii, and was an adolescent when rome fell to the vandal army. Pdf ammonius of alexandria, eusebius of caesarea, and the. While the church of rome held up the jewish bible as the sole authority upon every subject, the gnostic schools of alexandria and ephesus had turned out thousands of students who recognized the absurdity of such a claim. He was undoubtedly the biggest influence on plotinus in his development of neoplatonism, although little is known. Ammonius saccas pdf ammonius, while giving a critique of previous discussions. Ammonius coming to understanding 2010 kindle edition by. Because it was his inspiration that began something of a fire in the minds of those in alexandria at the time, where a smorgasbord of philosophy was to be had. Access to the complete content on oxford reference requires a subscription or purchase. The city of alexandria is interesting to the theosophical student, for there, just fifteen hundred years ago, existed the last great theosophical school in history the school which was begun by ammonius saccas, called theodidaktos, or godtaught, and ended with the death of hypatia. A man who introduced universal philosophy lay the foundation of neo platonism. He criticized false philosophies as well as heresies, but not the philosophy of plato.
Known primarily for his commentaries on aristotle, which were said to be of greater benefit than anyone elses, he was also distinguished in geometry and astronomy. He was undoubtedly the biggest influence on plotinus in his development of neoplatonism. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The details of his life are unknown, insomuch that he has frequently been confused with a christian philosopher of the same name. The philosophy of ammonius saccas on23xd036pl0 idocpub. Ammonius author of in aristotelis categorias commentarius. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading ammonius coming to understanding 2010. Thought originally to have been a porter, he taught rhetoric and an eclectic and esoteric form of platonism at alexandria. Ammonius saccas, of alexandria lc linked data service. Ammonius of alexandra victor in the stadion race at the olympic games, 256 b. Inspired by the teachings of plato, and pythagoras. From early childhood, however, he was repelled by the extreme dogmatism that characterized the vociferous alexandrian christian movement. Blavatsky in founding the theosophical society in 1875. Pdf origen and the platonic tradition researchgate.
Ammonius of athens 1st century ad, philosopher and teacher of plutarch. Ammonius of alexandria, eusebius of caesarea and the. Edwards points out that in fact neither eusebius nor porphyry in the passage cited by eusebius asserts that origens ammonius was ammonius saccas who taught plotinus. Later authors applied the nickname of saccas to ammonius. Ammonius founded the eclectic theosophical school in alexandria in 193 ce, which according to helena p. Information on ammonius of alexandria he is credited with the first gospel synopsis, a work that placed parallel passages from the other three canonical gospels against the gospel of matthew. On the latter view there was a christian origen as well as a platonist origen who. Ammonius of alexandria, stadion ammonius 2 a minister of alexander balas, king of syria 14942 ammonius murders laodice and other members of the syrian royal family. James santucci, editor of theosophical history,in 1994, and the original paper was.
This includes data values and the controlled vocabularies that house them. Ammonius saccas 1911 encyclopedia britannica bible. Of humble origin, he appears to have earned a livelihood as a porter. Ammonius saccas 3rd century ad, neoplatonist philosopher and teacher of plotinus. This study situates origen of alexandria within the platonic tradition, presenting origenas a christian philosopher who taught and studied philosophy, of which theology was part and parcel. Ammonius is the author of in aristotelis categorias commentarius 0.
Religions free fulltext origen and the platonic tradition. It is argued that ammonius was an independent thinker who, though a platonist, had a weaker commitment to plato than most of his contemporary platonists, and hence was uninterested in interschool polemics. The objects which ammonius saccas had in view were the same as those of h. Ammonius saccas 3rd century ad, alexandrian neoplatonist philosopher and teacher of plotinus. Some scholars supporting the view of the indian origins of ammonius saccas have also. The ammonius foundation is a politically nonpartisan entity. Ammonius saccus by stefan carey theosophy downunder. When ammonius died circa 242 ce, plotinus had been his pupil for a decade. Among his pupils was origen, who is widely considered as perhaps the greatest biblical scholar and church father. It may be, as elizabeth digeser has recently argued, that ammonius saccas. A significant feature of the situation of ammonius saccas, leiden. Ammonius coming to understanding 2010 kindle edition by the ammonius foundation press.
He is mainly known as the teacher of plotinus, whom he taught for eleven years from 232 to 243. Siemons, then the date of birth of ammonius saccas would go back to 156 a. Ammonius of alexandria christian 3rd century ad, christian writer confused with ammonius saccas ammonius hermiae 5th century ad, alexandrian philosopher. Ammonius may refer to ammonius lithotomos 3rd century bc, greek lithotomist. I n september 2016, after a careful analysis of the state of the esoteric movement worldwide, a group of students decided to form the independent lodge of theosophists, whose priorities include the building of a better future in the different dimensions of life. Ammonius himself was distinguished by the epithet niceph. The latter departed from alexandria in 243, joining an illfated expedition possibly as a court philosopher of. The overarching mission of the ammonius foundation is to stimulate renewed appreciation for systematic philosophy, by funding excellent research on foundational themes in traditional metaphysics and philosophical theology. Ammonius of alexandria christian philosopher 3rd century ad, christian writer confused with ammonius saccas. This is, according to this interpretation, supported by the fact that ammianus marcellinus refers to him as saccas ammonius, thus as the sacian ammonius, which makes any reading as denoting sakkos impossible. The cognomen sakkas therefore referred to india as a marker of ethnic identity.
Porphyry asserts that he was born of christian parents, and returned to the heathen religion. Ammonius saccas held the view that the philosophy of aristotle is in agreement with that of plato on most essential philosophical issues. The linked data service provides access to commonly found standards and vocabularies promulgated by the library of congress. Blavatsky, was the precursor of the modern theosophical society ts. Early neoplatonist school greek philosopher of alexandria, often called the founder of the neoplatonic school. That ammonius saccas taught both origen and plotinus is accepted by most. The book of revelation written under spirit control by apollonius.
Ammonius lithotomos 3rd century bc, alexandrian greek lithotomist. As noted by eleanor dickey, scholarship in this sense refers to any type of work concentrating on the words, rather. Datasets available include lcsh, bibframe, lc name authorities, lc classification, marc codes, premis vocabularies, iso language codes, and more. Origen read his textual authority, scripture, in light of platonism. Neo or the new platonism, was expounded by porphyry in the third century ad, after being a student of plotinus, a student of. The influence of the great alexandrian schools had not helped the early christians in their work of propaganda. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. As required by law and adopted by principle, our notforprofit organization does not support or otherwise endorse any political candidate, party, campaign, or interest. His pupils included origen, plotinus the famous neoplatonist, and a pagan origen. Ammonius a dictionary of early christian biography. Why bother with someone like ammonius saccus from so long ago.
During the last two centuries a remarkable similarity between the philosophical system of plotinus 205 270 a. The pagan biographer porphyry claimed that learning made ammonius reject his christian upbringing for traditional. Ammonius saccas was an egyptian philosopher from alexandria who was often referred to as. Ammonius, a disciple of pambo, and one of the most celebrated of the monks of nitria. His work was the basis of the eusebian canons, a division of the gospels into numbered sections that crossreferences the parallels to each other. Being of unusual stature, he and his brothers dioscorus, eusebius, and euthymius were called the tall brothers soz. He studied philosophy at the academy in athens for many years from about 460 under proclus of lydia scholarch there from 437 to 485, among whose students ammonius is said to have excelled in mathematics and. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter without a. Sermone vulgari saccarium significat, quod nomen opinationibus nonnullis locum dedit. James santucci, editor of theosophical history, in. This book addresses the possibility of any direct influence of indian thought upon plotinus and his teacher ammonius saccas 185 250 a. He was undoubtedly the biggest influence on plotinus in his development of neoplatonism, although little is known about his own philosophical views.
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