Apollonius of Tyana, the Philosopher-Reformer of the First Century A.D. — A Reader’s Guide

The Biographer and His Subject

Mead devotes a section to Philostratus, the biographer of Apollonius, and the nature of his work. He notes that Damis, Apollonius's companion, is described as a compagnon de voyage rather than an initiated pupil, suggesting a limited perspective. The text also discusses the "Gymnosophists" of Upper Egypt, whom Damis calls simply the "Naked" (γυμνοί). Mead clarifies that the term is not purely physical, citing a chance sentence from one ascetic: "At the age of fourteen, I resigned my patrimony to those who desired such things, and naked I sought the Naked." This echoes Philo's language about the Therapeut communities, indicating a shared ascetic vocabulary.

Indian Echoes in Egyptian Asceticism

The Gymnosophist community, located on a hill near the Nile, is described as a phrontistērion or "thinking shop," a term Aristophanes used for Socrates' school. The ascetics lived in separate monasteria (caves or cells) and met under a group of palms. Mead speculates on the community's Indian origins, noting that one younger member joined after his father, a sea captain trading to the East, reported that these "Ethiopians" were from India. If true, this suggests Buddhist influence, as Buddhism was the only propagandizing Indian religion. However, Mead cautions that such speculations are permissible only as inferences from incomplete evidence.

The War of Opinion

Mead's study is subtitled "A Critical Study of the Only Existing Record of His Life with Some Account of the War of Opinion Concerning Him." He examines how Apollonius has been variously portrayed as a philosopher, a wonder-worker, and a rival to Christ. The text includes sections on Apollonius's mode of life, his sayings and sermons, and his letters, but Mead consistently emphasizes the fragmentary and contested nature of the sources. He does not claim to resolve these debates but rather to present the evidence and the conflicting interpretations that have arisen over centuries.

Readers should approach Mead's work as a critical historiography rather than a straightforward biography. The author's theosophical leanings may color his interpretations, particularly regarding Eastern influences. The excerpts provided offer only a partial view of the full text, which includes extensive notes on texts, translations, and literature. For a balanced understanding, consult the original sources Mead discusses, especially Philostratus's Life of Apollonius.

That rainy Tuesday, Mead’s guide to Apollonius left me drowsy, half-watching the drops streak the window. His insistence on the philosopher’s worldly wanderings made me wonder how Voltaire would have mocked such earnest piety. I pulled down the old dictionary, opened it mid-page, and spent the next hour smiling at his sharp, dry irreverence. A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 01 — Key Ideas to Explore keeps the same company, though with a wink instead of a robe.