Greek philosophers
Plutarch
Plutarch was a Greek philosopher, writer and historian. He was born in 46 AD (Chaironeia) and died in 127 AD (Delphi).
In his youth Plutarch travelled extensively (Greece, Egypt, Asia Minor, Rome). He also studied in many places (Athens, Corinth, Alexandria). At the age of 45 he returned to his native city of Chaironeia, where he held important offices and where he subsequently lived. He even founded a branch of the Platonic Academy there.
Plutarch also received honorary citizenship of Athens and was a friend of the Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian.
Plutarch wrote as many as 227 literary works, of which 150 have survived to this day. His most important works are biographies of famous Greeks and Romans. These are 22 pairs of biographies of prominent Greek and Roman personalities, whom he compared with each other and regarded as exemplary figures. He emphasized their moral qualities. Many later dramatists such as Corneille, Racine and William Shakespeare drew on these biographies.
He also wrote a number of smaller works that dealt with morality or ethics. He also worked on literature, natural science, philosophy, mathematics, religion, and other subjects.