Homer, Pindar, and the tragic poets often use the expression "divine man" for heroes, who in every case "were born of gods." The origin of the concept of the divine man in ancient Greek culture can be traced back to mythological stories of the sons of the gods, but the first representatives of the concept of the divine man for whom sufficiently detailed evidence can be drawn are Epimenides, Pythagoras, Empedocles, and Numa.

The "divine man," the charismatic leader or reformer, operates in the political, spiritual, social, or other realm of life. His supernatural abilities are sometimes obvious to all people, but more often are discerned only by his devoted followers. However, when he is the Master of a spiritual way of life, the qualities of the charismatic person become understood even more in terms of his divine nature.

One such "Divine man" was Apollonius of Tyana. He followed the path of deification, frequented wise men, and conversed with gods. He had the ability of healing, physiognomy, divination, and telepathy. He could become invisible whenever he wanted and could teleport instantly. Most importantly, he was an advisor to emperors, a harbinger of an era of prosperity for the entire Roman Empire, and a great Master of his time.