Plutarch Plutarchos Plutarchus writer an historian bust replica museum, 25 cm, 2 kg, black marble base
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Original picture from the museum in Delphi
The writer Plutarch
(Greek Plutarchos, lat. Plutarchus) is sometimes also referred to as a historian. He was born 46 years ago in Chaironeia, Boeotia. The year of his death is 119.
The Greek writer comes from an old-established, wealthy family. After his studies in Athens, he was in his hometown Archon, one of the nine highest officials of Athens and priest in Delphi at the same time. Travels, among others to Egypt and Italy, partly on political missions, also included lectures and meetings with important men of his time, e.g. with the emperors Trajan and Hadrian.
In a large circle of friends, he dedicated himself to cultivated sociability and the popular scientific discussion of questions from the most diverse areas of life. His writings reflect this lively spiritual life. From lessons for his own and the children of wealthy fellow citizens, a kind of private academy developed at which Plutarch taught.
Only a part of Plutarch's rich literary activity has been handed down (of about 250 titles attributed to him, about a third). The 45 "Bioi paralleloi" (Parallel Biographies) Plutarch compiles 23 pairs of one famous Greek and one famous Roman each. In addition, four single biographies have been handed down. Plutarch does not want to be a historiographer, but, influenced by peripatetic teaching, the interaction between nature and action of his heroes, whereby kindness and psychological sensitivity occasionally paint an unhistorically positive picture. A second large group of writings is summarized under the title "Ethics" (lat. "Moralia", Moral Scriptures), which only applies in part. They deal with philosophical topics, with Plutarch attaching great importance to ethics (popular scientific writings on family life, education, friendship, character defects and their elimination). As a supporter of Platonic philosophy he writes against Epicurus and the Stoa, in the political writings he makes recommendations for wise behaviour as a loyal subject of the Roman Empire.
Literary-historical, physical, medical, rhetorical, music-historical and theological writings show Plutarch's broad interest and universal education, but also prove him to be a creator without his own research and originality in thought. Nevertheless, he is invaluable as a source, e.g. his writings on the Isis and Osiris faith. Plutarch uses various literary forms, be it dialogue, diatribe form, letter, etc.
Plutarch's writings, especially his parallel biographies, were an extremely rich after-effect especially since humanism in all countries (Montaigne, Shakespeare, German classics, to name but a few). His biographies conveyed the common knowledge of ancient history to a large extent.
Original Museum in Delphi.
Replica reproduced in a reduced size
This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday, April 15, 2014.