Ammonius Saccas (/əˈmoʊniəs/; Greek: Ἀμμώνιος Σακκᾶς; 175 AD – 243 AD) was a Hellenistic Platonist self-taught philosopher from Alexandria, generally regarded as the precursor of Neoplatonism and/or one of its founders.[1][2][3] He is mainly known as the teacher of Plotinus, whom he taught from 232 to 243.[2] He was undoubtedly the most significant influence on Plotinus in his development of Neoplatonism, although little is known about his own philosophical views. Later Christian writers stated that Ammonius was a Christian, but it is now generally assumed that there was a different Ammonius of Alexandria who wrote biblical texts.
^ abSiorvanes, Lucas (2018). "Plotinus and Neoplatonism: The Creation of a New Synthesis". In Keyser, Paul T.; Scarborough, John (eds.). Oxford Handbook of Science and Medicine in the Classical World. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 847–868. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199734146.013.78. ISBN 9780199734146. LCCN 2017049555.
^ abArmstrong, A. Hilary; Duignan, Brian; Lotha, Gloria; Rodriguez, Emily (1 January 2021) [20 July 1998]. "Plotinus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Edinburgh: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021. Plotinus (born 205 CE, Lyco, or Lycopolis, Egypt?—died 270, Campania), ancient philosopher, the centre of an influential circle of intellectuals and men of letters in 3rd-century Rome, who is regarded by modern scholars as the founder of the Neoplatonic school of philosophy. [...] In his 28th year—he seems to have been rather a late developer—Plotinus felt an impulse to study philosophy and thus went to Alexandria. He attended the lectures of the most eminent professors in Alexandria at the time, which reduced him to a state of complete depression. In the end, a friend who understood what he wanted took him to hear the self-taught philosopher Ammonius Saccas. When he had heard Ammonius speak, Plotinus said, "This is the man I was looking for," and stayed with him for 11 years. Ammonius is the most mysterious figure in ancient Western philosophy. He was, it seems, a lapsed Christian (yet even this is not quite certain), and the one or two extant remarks about his thought suggest a fairly commonplace sort of traditional Platonism. A philosopher who could attract such devotion from Plotinus and who may also have been the philosophical master of the great Christian theologian Origen must have had something more to offer his pupils, but what it was is not known. That Plotinus stayed with him for 11 years is in no way surprising. One did not enter an ancient philosophical school to take courses and obtain a degree but rather to join in what might well be a lifelong cooperative following of the way to truth, goodness, and the ultimate liberation of the spirit.
^Scott, Walter (1982). Hermetica: Introduction, texts, and translation. Random House. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-87773-338-6.
AmmoniusSaccas (/əˈmoʊniəs/; Greek: Ἀμμώνιος Σακκᾶς; 175 AD – 243 AD) was a Hellenistic Platonist self-taught philosopher from Alexandria, generally...
Christian writer confused with AmmoniusSaccasAmmonius the Hermit, called Saint Amun, 4th century abbot and desert father Ammonius Grammaticus (fl. 389), Egyptian...
derived from a single principle, "the One". Neoplatonism began with AmmoniusSaccas and his student Plotinus (c. 204/5–271 AD) and stretched to the sixth...
founder of Neoplatonism. His teacher was the self-taught philosopher AmmoniusSaccas, who belonged to the Platonic tradition. Historians of the 19th century...
who lived in Alexandria. He was a student of AmmoniusSaccas and a contemporary of Plotinus in Ammonius's philosophy school in Alexandria. Some researchers...
as Dexippus Herennius (fl. c. 240), a Neoplatonic philosopher; see AmmoniusSaccas Herennius Modestinus (fl. c. 250), Roman jurist Herennius Etruscus...
compiled by his student Porphyry (c. AD 270). Plotinus was a student of AmmoniusSaccas, and together they were founders of Neoplatonism. His work, through...
2003, p. 152 Ross & Ackrill 1995, p. 193 Athenaeus, v. 211e Ammonius, In de Int. 5.24 Ammonius, In An. Pr. 31.11 Sharples 2003, p. 153 Spade, Paul Vincent...
(approximate date) Zenobia, queen of the Palmyrene Empire (d. 274) AmmoniusSaccas, Neoplatonic philosopher (approximate date) Herodian of Antioch, Roman...
Patriarch of Constantinople (until 272). Saloninus, Roman emperor (d. 260) AmmoniusSaccas, Egyptian philosopher (b. 175) Ardashir I, king of the Sassanid Empire...
theos - 'god', and didaktos - taught) were "the immediate disciples of AmmoniusSaccas, who was called Theodidaktos, “God-Taught” – such as Plotinus and his...
voluminously Ammonius Hermiae 5th/6th century AD Neoplatonic Ammonius of Athens 1st century AD Middle Platonist teacher of Plutarch AmmoniusSaccas 2nd/3rd...
capacity in the royal court of China. They are massacred by the eunuchs. AmmoniusSaccas, Egyptian philosopher (d. 242) Pope Pontian (approximate date) of the...
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