This is the first collected volume dedicated to Olympiodorus of Alexandria, the last pagan Platonic philosopher at the end of antiquity.

Olympiodorus (AD c. 500â€"570), possibly the last non-Christian teacher of philosophy in Alexandria, delivered these lectures as an introduction to Plato with a biography. For us, they can serve as an accessible introduction to late Neoplatonism. Olympiodorus locates the First Alcibiades at the start of the curriculum on Plato, because it is about self-knowledge. His pupils are beginners, able to approach the hierarchy of philosophical virtues, like the aristocratic playboy Alcibiades. Alcibiades needs to know himself, at least as an individual with particular actions, before he can reach the.

Olympiodorus' life and society -- Philosophical excellence and the philosophical curriculum -- Pre-philosophical excellence: (1) natural and (2) habituated -- Philosophical excellence: (3) civic, (4) purificatory, (5) contemplative -- Excellence beyond philosophy: (6) inspired [and (7) hieratic] -- Summary -- The Platonic curriculum and the Alcibiades: from natural gifts to civic responsibility -- Olympiodorus' lectures on the Alcibiades -- Appendix: Olympiodorus' works -- Uncertain attributions -- Textual emendations -- Translation -- Bibliography -- English-Greek glossary -- Greek-English index -- Index of passages cited -- Index of names and places -- Subject index.

This is a modern, annotated translation of antiquity's only extant commentary on Plato's moral and political dialogue "Gorgias," in which the author defends ancient Greek philosophy and culture at a time when Christianity has almost replaced it. The first translation into any modern language of a central work in Platonic studies is accompanied by annotations which guide the reader in understanding the obscurities of the text, an introduction to the main issues raised by it, and a bibliography of the modern literature.

Olympiodorus' life and society -- Philosophical excellence and the philosophical curriculum -- Pre-philosophical excellence: (1) natural and (2) habituated -- Philosophical excellence: (3) civic, (4) purificatory, (5) contemplative -- Excellence beyond philosophy: (6) inspired [and (7) hieratic] -- Summary -- The Platonic curriculum and the Alcibiades: from natural gifts to civic responsibility -- Olympiodorus' lectures on the Alcibiades -- Appendix: Olympiodorus' works -- Uncertain attributions -- Textual emendations -- Translation -- Bibliography -- English-Greek glossary -- Greek-English index -- Index of passages cited -- Index of names and places -- Subject index

Olympiodorus (AD c. 500–570), possibly the last non-Christian teacher of philosophy in Alexandria, delivered these lectures as an introduction to Plato with a biography. For us, they can serve as an accessible introduction to late Neoplatonism. Olympiodorus locates the First Alcibiades at the start of the curriculum on Plato, because it is about self-knowledge. His pupils are beginners, able to approach the hierarchy of philosophical virtues, like the aristocratic playboy Alcibiades. Alcibiades needs to know himself, at least as an individual with particular actions, before he can reach the virtues of mere civic interaction. As Olympiodorus addresses mainly Christian students, he tells them that the different words they use are often symbols of truths shared between their faiths.