A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

534 PROCLUS. PROCLUS.
thematics from Hero. Whether from the confusion ing over their welfare with the most sedulous
of his doctrines, or the indistinctness of his mode care; if any of them were ill, addressing the most
of expounding them, Olympiodorus was rarely fervent supplications to the gods for their recovery,
understood by his disciples. Proclus, by his ex- and himself adopting all the means which he could
traordinary powers of apprehension and memory, to restore them. His friendship with Archiadas
was able, after the lectures, to repeat them almost reached a perfectly Pythagorean perfection. But
verbatim to his fellow-pupils. He also with great far beyond these mere social virtues was, in the
ease, according to Marinus, learnt by heart the estimation of Marinus, his devotion to the purifyphilosophical treatises of Aristotle. Olympiodorus ing virtues, that is, to every form of superstition
was so delighted with him, that he offered him his and fanaticism. All the mystic rites of purification,
daughter in marriage. Becoming at last dissatisfied Orphic and Chaldaean, he practised most assiduwith the instruction to be obtained at Alexandria, ously. From animal food he almost totally abProclus removed to Athens, where he was received stained; fasts and vigils, of which he prescribed
by a fellow-countryman of the name of Nicolaus. to himself even more than were customary, he obBy Syrianus, with whom, he formed an acquaint- served with scrupulous exactitude. The reverence
ance, he was introduced to Plutarchus, the son of with which he honoured the sun and moon would
Nestorius, who was charmed with the aptitude seem to have been unbounded. He celebrated all
and zeal displayed by so young a man (he was at the important religious festivals of every nation,
the time not 20 years of age), so that though very himself composing hymns in honour not only of
old, he addressed himself to the task of instructing Grecian deities, but of those of other nations also.
the young aspirant, and read with him Aristotle's Nor were departed heroes and philosophers extreatise de Anima and the Phaedo of Plato. He cepted from this religious veneration; and he even
even took him to reside with him, and termed performed sacred rites in honour of the departed
him his son. Plutarchus at his death commended spirits of the entire human race. Indeed, he held
Proclus to the care of his successor Syrianus, who that the philosopher should be the hierophant of
in his turn regarded him rather as a helper and the whole world. His ordinary labours at the
ally in his philosophical pursuits, than as a disciple, same time seem to have been very great. He
and took him to cultivate with him the ascetic delivered five lectures a day, besides holding a
system of life, which was becoming the practice of species of literary soirees. It was of course not
the school, and soon selected him as his future surprising that such a man should be favoured
successor. After a sufficient foundation had been with various apparitions and miraculous interposilaid by the study of Aristotle, Proclus was ini- tions of the gods, in which he seems himself to
tiated into the philosophy of Plato and the mystic have believed as devoutly as his encomiast Maritheology of the school. By his intense application nus. At least, he used to tell, with tears in his
and unwearied diligence, he achieved such rapid eyes, how a god had once appeared and proclaimed
progress, that by his 28th year he had written his to him the glory of the city. But the still higher
commentary on the Timaeus of Plato, as well as grade of what, in the language of the school, was
many other treatises. On the death of Syrianus termed the theurgic virtue, he attained by his
he succeeded him, and inherited from him the profound meditations on the oracles, and the Orphic
house in which he resided and taught. The in- and Chaldaic mysteries, into the profound secrets
come which he derived from his school seems to of which he was initiated by Asclepigeneia, the
have been considerable. (Phot. p. 337, b. ed. Bekk.) daughter of Plutarchus, who alone was in complete
He also found time to take part in public affairs, possession of the theurgic knowledge and discipline,
giving his advice on important occasions, and, by which had descended to her from the great Nesprecept and example, endeavouring to guide the torius. He profited so much by her instructions,
conduct of the leading men. Whether it was that as to be able, if we may believe Marinus, to call
his interference in this way provoked hostility, down rain in a time of drought, to stop an earthor (as Ritter, vol. iv. p. 658 believes) that his quake, and to procure the immediate intervention
eager attachment to, and diligent observance of of Aesculapius to cure the daughter of his friend
heathen practices had drawn down upon him the Archiadas. It was supernaturally revealed to him
suspicion of violating the laws of the Christian in a dream, that he belonged to the Hermetic chain
emperors, Proclus was compelled to quit Athens (a species of heathen apostolical succession), and
for a time; he went to Asia, where he had the that the soul of the Pythagorean Nicomachus dwelt
opportunity of making himself better acquainted in him.
with the mystic rites of the East. He himself Proclus died on the 17th of April, A.D. 485,
compiled a collection of the Chaldaean oracles, on the year after an eclipse of the sun mentioned by
which he laboured for five years. After a year's Marinus, and determined to have occurred Jan.
absence, he came back to Athens. After his re- 13. 484. The seventy-five years which Marinus
turn he proceeded more circumspectly in his re- assigns as the length of his life are of course lunar
ligious observances, concealing them even from his years. During the last five years of his life he had
disciples, for which purpose, Marinus tells us, his become superannuated, his strength having been
house was conveniently situated. The profounder exhausted by his fastings and other ascetic practices.
secrets of his philosophy he proclaimed only to his According to Marinus he was endowed with the
most confidential disciples, in meetings with respect greatest bodily as well as mental advantages. His
to which it appears secrecy was enjoined (a{ypadoi senses remained entire till his death. He was
avvofo'iai). Marinus records, with intense admira- possessed of great strength and remarkable personal
tion, the perfection to which he attained in all beauty. He was only twice or thrice in his life atvirtues. His ascetic temper led him to decline tacked with anything like severe illness, though it
the numerous advantageous matrimonial connec- appears that he was somewhat liable to attacks of
tions that were offered to him; but towards all his the gout. His powers of memory are described as
friends he exhibited the greatest urbanity, watch- prodigious. He was buried near Lycabettus. In