AD 46 β s was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, [ 1 ] historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.
He is known primarily for his Parallel Lives , a series of biographies of illustrious Greeks and Romans, and Moralia , a collection of essays and speeches. Plutarch was born to a prominent family in the small town of Chaeronea , [ 4 ] about 30 kilometres 19 mi east of Delphi , in the Greek region of Boeotia.
His family was long established in the town; his father was named Autobulus and his grandfather was named Lamprias. Plutarch studied mathematics and philosophy in Athens under Ammonius from AD 66 to His sponsor was Lucius Mestrius Florus , who was an associate of the new emperor Vespasian, as evidenced by his new name, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus. AD 70 with Florus, who served also as a historical source for his Life of Otho.
Plutarch lived most of his life at Chaeronea, and was initiated into the mysteries of the Greek god Apollo. He probably took part in the Eleusinian Mysteries. AD 95 , Plutarch was made one of the two sanctuary priests for the temple of Apollo at Delphi; the site had declined considerably since the classical Greek period.
Around the same time in the 90s, Delphi experienced a construction boom, financed by Greek patrons and possible imperial support. The man, although bearded, is depicted at a relatively young age: His hair and beard are rendered in coarse volumes and thin incisions. The gaze is deep, due to the heavy eyelids and the incised pupils.
