Synesius of Cyrene

Mosaic depicting an angel. Museum of Ptolemais. Photo Marco Prins.

Mosaic depicting an angel. Museum of PtolemaisBrother

Synesius of Cyrene (c.370-c.413) was a Neo-Platonic philosopher who became bishop of Ptolemais in the Cyrenaica. He left behind a small corpus of texts that offer much information about daily life in Late Antiquity, and about the christianization of the Roman world.

Letters in Manuscript Order

Letters in Historical Order

Other Texts

Synesius' Correspondents

Anastasius

One of Synesius' dearest friends and an important courtier in Constantinople; he was the tutor of the children of the emperor Arcadius.
402: 43: A Recommendation
406: 22: Congratulations
411: 79: Andronicus
412: 46: A Reproach
Cf. Letter 100

Andronicus

Born in Berenice; military commander of Cyrenaica, with whom Synesius had a conflict that culminated in the soldier's excommunication
412: 57: Against Andronicus (this is not a letter but a speech)

Anthemius

One of the most powerful men in the eastern Empire: consul in 405 (with Stilicho), praetorian prefect, friend of John Chrysostom, prefect of Constantinople during the reign of Theodosius II

Anysius

A Roman general for whom Synesius felt great admiration because he defeated the Libyan nomads.
411: 37: Illness
411: 94: War
411: 77: A Quick Note
411: 78: The Unnigardae
412: 6: A Horse Thief
412: 14: A Horse Thief
412: 59: A Recommendation
Cf. Constitutio

Asclepiodotus

Otherwise unknown
413: 26: Death of Synesius' Son

Athanasius

410: 121: Separation of Church and State

Aurelian

Praetorian prefect in Constantinople, consul in 400; the "Osiris" of The Egyptian Tale
398: 34: A Warning
400: 31: An Adhortation to Remain Just
401: 38: A Recommendation

Auxentius

A childhood friend of Synesius; the two had quarreled
410: 116: An Apology
410: 60: Trying to Forget a Quarrel

The Bishops

411: 72: The Beginning of the Andronicus Affair
412: 5: The Arian Controversy
412: 128: Consolation
412: 58: The Excommunication of Andronicus

Chryses

Otherwise unknown
409: 83: A Recommendation

Chryso-...

Otherwise unknown
412: 157: Spring
412: 158: An Impossible Visit:

Cledonius

Otherwise unknown
411: 42: A Recommendation

Constans

Otherwise unknown
409: 27: A Recommendation

Cyril

Patriarch of Alexandria, successor of Theophilus
413: 12: A Pastoral Letter

Diogenes

A cousin of Synesius
404: 20: A Recommendation
408: 23: A Complaint

Domitian

An otherwise unknown lawyer
409: 155: A Recommendation
409: 156: An Offer to Help

The Elders

Name of the collective of bishops in Cyrenaica
410: 11: Accepting the Bishopric

Eupotius

Synesius' brother, who lived in Ptolemais, and to whom a quarter of the entire correspondence was directed.
394: 51: The Aegean Sea
396: 55: A Goodbye
396: 56: On his Niece
396: 54: Athens
396: 136: A Visit to Athens
396: 135: A Recommendation
396: 110: Chilas
397: 4: Shipwreck
401: 120: Asking for Information
401: 104: Cowardly Behavior during a War
401: 113: On Going to War
402: 3: Very Bad Taste
402: 35: Legacy Hunting
402: 39: Announcing One's Arrival
402: 32: A Bad Slave
402: 52: Buying a Mantle
402: 65: Sending Books
402: 92: On Speaking Bluntly
402: 106: On Gardening
402: 114: An Invitation
402: 109: A Visit Postponed
402: 36: The Death of Castricius
404: 127: A Greedy Governor
404: 50: The Assassination of Aemilius
404: 18: A Recommendation
405: 125: Building an Army
405: 132: War
407: 108: Preparing for War
407: 107: On the Right of Self-Defense
407: 122: A Successful Engagement
407: 95: "Even Enemies Have Their Uses"
409: 53: On his Brother's Son
409: 82: A Recommendation
409: 84: A Recommendation
409: 85: A Recommendation
409: 86: A Recommendation
409: 105: On Becoming a Bishop
411: 8: A Reproach
411: 87: A Recommendation of a Group of Soldiers
411: 89: Self-Pity

Heliodorus

Unknown, but probably an or orator or a courtier of the prefect of Egypt.
402: 17: A Compliment
403: 25: A Friend in Love
403: 117: A Recommendation

Herculian

A fellow-student and very intimate friend of Synesius
395: 137: A Difficult Goodbye
395: 138: A Friendly Reproach
395: 139: Longing for a Lost Friend
395: 145: A Runaway Slave
402: 140: On Being a Man
402: 141: A Lost Text
402: 142: Reproaches and Encouragement
402: 146: Friendship and Philosophy
402: 143: A Reproach
402: 144: A Recommendation

Herodes and Martyrius

Herodes was an officer and a relative of Synesius; Martyrius is otherwise unknown
404: 19: A Recommendation
cf. Letter 38

Hesychius

An otherwise unknown official
411: 93: Canceling a Fine

Hypatia

A follower of the Neoplatonic philosophy and head of the school of Alexandria, she was recognized by the church historian Socrates as one of the most brilliant philosophers of the late fourth, early fifth century. Synesius was among her pupils. She was lynched by a Christian mob in 413/414.
394: 33: In Praise of Alexander
401: 124: A City in Wartime
402: 15: A Hydrometer
404: 154: On his own Writings
413: 81: Death of Synesius' Son; a Recommendation
413: 10: Losing Contact with the Outer World
413: 16: A Farewell

Joannes I

404: 44: An Open Letter to a Murderer

Joannes II

Joannes III

A mutual acquaintance of Synesius and Anysius who, after an illness that made him unsuited for military service, entered a monastery.
412: 147: Congratulations to a Novice

Nicander

Only known from Synesius' letters
402: 1: The "Eulogy of Baldness"
405: 75: A Recommendation

Olympius

A wealthy Christian from Syria and a close friend and (probably) fellow-student of Synesius
403: 98: Gratitude
403: 99: Recommendation of a Poet
403: 97: Greetings
405: 133: Preparations for War
408: 148: The Good Life
409: 149: Presents Received
410: 96: Becoming Bishop; Spiritual Crisis
412: 45: A Call for Assistance

Pentadius

Peter

A bishop or priest
412: 13: Circular Letter Announcing the Paschal Date

Proclus

Otherwise unknown, but apparently a close friend of Synesius.
413: 70: Death of Synesius' Son

Pylaemenes

A close friend of Synesius, living in Constantinople
401: 61: An Egyptian Rug
401: 88: A Lost Friend
402: 152: The Definition of Love
402: 74: The "Eulogy of Baldness"
402: 100: An Introduction
402: 101: Literary Life
402: 103: The Benefits of Philosophy
402: 102: A Recommendation
403: 129: Various Matters
406: 131: A Recommendation
406: 134: Various Matters
406: 71: Trying to Reach a Friend
407: 150: A Recommendation
407: 151: A Salute
408: 48: On Pylaemenes' Return to Constantinople
409: 153: A Polite Reproach

Simplicius

An officer who served in Cyrenaica, went to Constantinople and became one of the most important commanders in the Empire. He appears to have had an interest in Synesius' literary works.
405: 130: Cyrene Besieged
408: 24: A Complaint
412: 28: A Request for a Pardon

Stratonice and Theodorus