The life and miracles of a pagan saint. The colorful biography of Apollonius of Tyana by Philostratus recounts the words and miracles of a Pythagorean sage, inadvertently provoking a prolonged conflict between pagans and Christians. This volume, completing the Loeb Classical Library's edition of the Life of Apollonius of Tyana, provides a full context for this much-discussed third-party depiction of a charismatic religious teacher.

This is a new translation of the surviving letters of Apollonius, which are further enhanced and illuminated by recent discoveries. These letters reveal the personality of Apollonius as well as his religious and philosophical ideas. New for this edition is a selection of ancient references to Apollonius from authors such as Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine.

Philostratus's biography has quickly become intertwined with the religious disputes that characterized the rise of Christianity. An official of the Diocletian Empire, Hierocles, used it as a weapon in a counteroffensive against Christians, igniting a controversy that has lasted into modern times. Eusebius's response, the Bishop of Caesarea in the fourth century, was initially included in editions of the Life of Apollonius to serve as a spiritual antidote and to provide cover for the publishers. Today it stands as a significant chapter in the history of Philostratus's masterpiece.

Pages: 272, Year of Publication: 0531, Dimensions: 10.8x10.8cm