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Plutarch is a historical figure whose name is a fundamental part of the world’s shared history, standing as one of antiquity’s most revered biographers and philosophers. He was born around 46 AD in the small ancient Greek town of Chaeronea in Boetia, and no one ever suspected the enduring fame he would earn in his life. However, Plutarch’s influence grew to transcend time, with his works serving as a beacon of insight into the lives of notable figures of ancient Greece and Rome, offering timeless wisdom that continues to shape modern thought. What was the life story of this ancient Greek philosopher? And how has he contributed to our world?
Plutarch, Whose Name Resounds Through History
Plutarch’s early life was steeped in the rich cultural and intellectual milieu of ancient Greece. Raised in a family of wealth and prominence, he received a comprehensive education in philosophy, rhetoric and literature, studying under some of the most eminent scholars of his time. It was during his formative years that he developed a profound reverence for the teachings of Plato and Aristotle, whose philosophies would deeply inform his own intellectual pursuits.
His family was influential in the local town of Chaeronea, located just 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of famed Delphi. In many ways, his prominent family meant for him to succeed in life, as can be seen from his name: it is a compound of the Greek words πλοῦτος, meaning “wealth,” and ἀρχός, meaning “ruler” or “leader.”
“In Plutarch’s case, we know that he was born in Chaeronea, ca. 49-50 AD, and lived there all his life until his death near the end of the emperor Hadrian’s rule, ca. 120 AD. He tells us that he remained in his small hometown “lest it become even smaller” (Demosthenes 2.2). But despite its size Chaeronea was hardly isolated with easy access via the Corinthian Gulf to Italy, Macedonia, and the Black Sea, as well as Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean, all well pacified and safe to travel through in those days” (Frances B. Titchener, The Cambridge Companion to Plutarch).
From a young age, Plutarch received a good education, and was quickly adopted into the intellectual milieu of ancient Greece. He studied mathematics and philosophy in Athens under the famous Ammonius the Peripatetic, from 66 to 67 AD. Ammonius praised the capabilities of his student, writing of his intelligence and ability to learn, as well as introducing him to popular discourses on religion and morality.
Plutarch’s intellectual curiosity knew no bounds, leading him to explore a diverse array of subjects ranging from ethics and morality to politics and history. He was deeply influenced by the philosophical traditions of the Stoics and the Peripatetics, synthesizing their ideas with his own unique perspective to develop a holistic worldview that emphasized virtue, rationality and the pursuit of excellence.
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