Priscus of Epirus ( Greek: Πρίσκος; c. 305 – c. 395 AD), also known as Priscus the Thesprotian ( Greek: Πρίσκος ὁ Θεσπρωτὸς) and Priscus the Molossian ( Greek: Πρίσκος ὁ Μολοσσός), [1] was a Neoplatonist philosopher and theurgist, a colleague of Maximus of Ephesus, and a friend of the emperor Julian.
Priscus was a pupil of Aedesius in Pergamon, and later went to teach in Athens, where he taught Julian. [2] When Julian was in Gaul, he wrote to Priscus in the hope of acquiring the writings of Iamblichus on the Chaldean Oracles. [3] When Julian was proclaimed Caesar he summoned Priscus to Gaul, and he took him with him to Constantinople when he became Augustus in 361. [4] Priscus and Maximus travelled with Julian on campaign in Persia, and they were with him when he died in 363. [5] Sometime after the death of Julian, Priscus was arrested but eventually freed, avoiding the fate of Maximus who was executed in 371. [6] Priscus returned to Athens where he continued to teach for more than thirty years. [7]
Priscus of Epirus ( Greek: Πρίσκος; c. 305 – c. 395 AD), also known as Priscus the Thesprotian ( Greek: Πρίσκος ὁ Θεσπρωτὸς) and Priscus the Molossian ( Greek: Πρίσκος ὁ Μολοσσός), [1] was a Neoplatonist philosopher and theurgist, a colleague of Maximus of Ephesus, and a friend of the emperor Julian.
Priscus was a pupil of Aedesius in Pergamon, and later went to teach in Athens, where he taught Julian. [2] When Julian was in Gaul, he wrote to Priscus in the hope of acquiring the writings of Iamblichus on the Chaldean Oracles. [3] When Julian was proclaimed Caesar he summoned Priscus to Gaul, and he took him with him to Constantinople when he became Augustus in 361. [4] Priscus and Maximus travelled with Julian on campaign in Persia, and they were with him when he died in 363. [5] Sometime after the death of Julian, Priscus was arrested but eventually freed, avoiding the fate of Maximus who was executed in 371. [6] Priscus returned to Athens where he continued to teach for more than thirty years. [7]