Aedesius (Ancient Greek:Αἰδέσιος, died shortly before 355 AD[1]) was aNeoplatonist philosopher and mystic. He was born into a wealthy Cappadocian family, but he moved toSyria, where he was apprenticed toIamblichos. None of his writings have survived, but there is an extant biography byEunapius, a Greek sophist and historian of the 4th century who wrote a collection of biographies titledLives of the Sophists. Aedesius's philosophical doctrine was a mixture betweenPlatonism andeclecticism and, according toEunapius, he differed from Iamblichus on certain points connected withtheurgy andmagic.[2]
The school of Syria was dispersed after Iamblichus' death, and Aedesius seems to have modified his doctrines out of fear ofConstantine II, and took refuge indivination.[3] An oracle in a dream represented a pastoral life as his only retreat, but his disciples compelled him to resume his instructions.[4] Aedesius then founded a school of philosophy atPergamon, which emphasized theurgy and the revival ofpolytheism, and where he numbered among his pupilsEusebius of Myndus,Maximus of Ephesus, and the Roman emperorJulian. After the accession of the latter to the imperial purple, he invited Aedesius to continue his instructions, but the declining strength of the sage being unequal to the task, two of his most learned disciples,Chrysanthius and the aforementioned Eusebius, were by his own desire appointed to supply his place.[5] His co-teacher and perhaps consort at the Pergamon school was the female philosopher and mystic,Sosipatra.[6]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Aedesius".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 244. This cites:Ritter andPreller, p. 552 (presumably ofHistoria philosophiae Graeco-Romanae); Ritter'sGeschichte der Philosophie;T. Whittaker,The Neoplatonists (Cambridge, 1901).{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Aedesius".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.