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PLUTARCH. WHO IS HE?. He is the most influential ancient philosopher. Priest in Delphi: Occupied office 1 of the 2 permanent priests Responsible for interpretation of inspired utterances of Pyothia He supported the building of the library near sanctuary He was born in 46 AD in Chaeronea
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WHO IS HE? • He is the most influential ancient philosopher. • Priest in Delphi: • Occupied office • 1 of the 2 permanent priests • Responsible for interpretation of inspired utterances of Pyothia • He supported the building of the library near sanctuary • He was born in 46 AD in Chaeronea • He had wealthy parents • He attended philosophy school and became one of the leading citizens of Chaeronea and represented them. Eventually, he became the mayor.
WHAT DID HE WRITE? • Biographies and moral writings called “parallel lives” in which he compared various famous people and looked for signs of character and “the soul”. • His works were designed for philosophers as well as other literates, therefore making his works accessible to all. • As well as biographies, he wrote the ‘Moralia’, which are moral teachings, advice and some political writing. • He wrote 200 to 300 books. • His more serious works have been destroyed because later philosophers did not agree with his views.
WHEN HE WAS WRITING? • He was born 76 years after Cleopatra died. • 46 – 122 AD
WHY WAS HE WRITING? • Promote Greek-Roman ties and to morally educate the population. • He wanted to show off his talent. • He also wanted to concentrate on vices and virtues, for example when he writes about Alexander the Great, he thought that the most contribution was that he brought civilisation to the barbaric world. • His works were made to make people feel more virtuous and therefore happier. • Therefore his style of writing meant that he was concentrating on the little things that showed character and vices or virtues. However, it meant that he does not go into detail on more important historical events. – “It is not histories that I am writing, but lives”
WHO HE WAS WRITING FOR? • His works were dedicated to a man called Quintus SociusSenecio • He was writing for the people, offering them moral teachings.
HOW RELIABLE MIGHT HIS WORK BE? • Because he was more interested in the character of a person, he should not be relied on as an accurate historian. His sources were unbalanced. • He makes comparisons between people, therefore his work is not dedicated to one person so the work might be tweaked to fit parallels.
Why should we be cautious when reading his account? • His writing was entertaining and he states his own opinion and is known to have used unknown sources.