❧ Friends of Philosophy

There are many ancient writers who were not philosophers, but whose work shows great influence of philosophy - not necessarily the teachings of a particular school, but the philosophical "koinê" or shared language (and ideas) of Greco-Roman philosophy. This page lists ancient writers of this kind, a large portion of them being scholiasts (literary commentators). Also compare ☙ Other Philosophy.

I also include what might be called "theological" writers - authors who write in detail about the gods, but in a way that is neither strictly mythological/historical nor in conformity with the teachings of a specific school of philosophy. (The better ancient term might be theosophia.)

This list is still very far from complete.

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CLASSICAL PERIOD

Hecataeus of Miletus (ca. 550 – ca. 476 BCE), historian/geographer
:: The rationality of Hecataeus

For more information, see Historians & Geographers.

Herodotus of Halicarnassus (ca. 484 – ca. 425 BCE), historian
:: The rationality of Herodotus
:: Herodotus' theories of gods and cult

For historical passages of interest, see Historians & Geographers.

Palaephatus (4th century BCE), paradoxographer
:: The rationality of Palaphaetus
:: Later additions to Palaephatus

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FROM THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER, 323 BCE

Aratus of Soli (ca ca. 315/310–240 BCE), didactic poet
:: Philosophy and Religion in Aratus

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IMPERIAL PERIOD, 40 BCE–361 CE

Varro
Nigidius Figulus
Pliny the Elder

Heraclitus the Younger (1st century CE), grammarian
:: Philosophical Koine and the Gods in Heraclitus the Younger

Artemidorus of Daldis (2nd century CE), dream interpreter
:: The 'Theology' of Artemidorus' Oneirocritica
For further information, see ?Divination?.

Cornelius Labeo (3nd century?), antiquarian
:: The 'Theology' of Cornelius Labeo

Julius Firmicus Maternus (early 4th century), astrologer
:: Platonic Philosophy in Firmicus Maternus' Mathesis
:: Religion in Firmicus Maternus' Mathesis
:: Astrological authorities & doctrines in Firmicus Maternus
For the Christian work written after his conversion, see Apologetics & Polemics.

Tiberianus (4th century CE), poet
:: Tiberianus' Platonic Hymn

For further information, see Poets.

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FROM THE TIME OF JULIAN'S RULE, 361–363 CE, ON

Postumius Rufius Festus Avienius (4th century), poet

:: The 'Theology' of Avienius' Phaenomena

For other passages of interest in this and other works, see Poets.

Ammianus Marcellinus (ca. 330 to 391–400), historian

:: 'Theological' passages in Ammianus Marcellinus

For historical passages of interest, see Historians & Geographers.

Lactantius Placidus (ca. 350 – ca. 400), scholiast on Statius

:: Lactantius Placidus on the Demiurge and Magic

:: Lactantius Placidus on Infernal Matters

(etc.)

Anonymous scholiast on Statius' Achilleid

:: Anonymous Commentary on Statius' Achilleid, book I

(etc.)

:: The words 'fabula' & 'historia' in the Commentary on Statius' Achilleid

(Listed here for convenience because they commented on the same author as Lactantius Placidus.)

Pagans in the corpus of Augustine of Hippo

:: Longinianus' correspondence with Augustine

:: Maximus' correspondence with Augustine

:: Other pagans in Augustine's letters
:: A Pagan Sage in Augustine's 83 Diverse Questions

For Augustine himself, see ???.

Maurus Servius Honoratus (late 4th/early 5th century), scholiast on Vergil

:: Servius on Divine Identity and Difference

:: Roman Afterlives and Aftermortalities #1

(etc.)

For the grammatical works, see Liberal Arts.

John Stobaeus (perhaps early 5th century), anthologist

(etc.)

Nonnus of Panopolis (5th century), poet

:: Philosophy in Nonnus' Dionysiaca

:: 'Theology' in Nonnus' Dionysiaca

:: Alleged 'Pagan Monotheism' in Nonnus' Dionysiaca

:: Philosophy in Nonnus' Paraphrase of the Gospel of John

For further information on Nonnus, see Poets.

Zosimus (active 490s–510s), historian

:: 'Theological' passages in the historian Zosimus

For historical passages of interest, see Historians & Geographers.

Fabius Planciades Fulgentius (5th–6th century), grammarian

(etc.)

John Lydus (Iohannes Laurentios Lydos; 490 – after 552), antiquarian

:: John Lydus On the Months

:: John Lydus On the Magistracies of the Roman Constitution

:: John Lydus' divination manual On Signs (De ostentiis)

Agathias Scholasticus (530–582/594), historian

:: Philosophy in Agathias' History

For historical passages of interest, see Historians & Geographers. For his poetry, see Poets.

Musaeus (early 6th century), poet

:: Musaeus' Hero and Leander, a philosophical poem

For further information on Musaeus' context, see Poets.