The Greek politician of Syracuse and student of Plato, who overthrew tyranny, and the Roman military figure, also an advocate of Platonic philosophy, who assassinated Caesar.

The biographer and philosopher Plutarch (c. 50-120 AD) was born in Chaeronea, Boeotia. Through his travels, he broadened his intellectual horizons and came into contact with prominent figures of his time, mainly notable Romans. He spent most of his life in his homeland and held public priestly offices. His surviving work is distinguished in its historical-biographical section and the writings known as "Ethics."

In the "Parallel Lives," prominent Greeks and Romans are compared, and the worlds each represents are indirectly contrasted. In the "Ethics," issues of morality, philosophy, science, politics, literary criticism, as well as topics from the realms of religion, nature, history, etc., are developed, sometimes in the form of dialogues and other times as treatises or dissertations.

Erudite and with a fine spirit, the author expressed traditional Greek values with simplicity and an optimistic outlook. His work is both enjoyable and instructive, while also being an important source for the literature of classical and Alexandrian times.