Synesius of Cyrene

Mosaic depicting an angel. Museum of Ptolemais

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.

Letter 117, written in 403, speaks for itself and is offered here in the translation by A. Fitzgerald.

Letter 117: A Recommendation

To Heliodorus

Rumor says that you have great influence with the present prefect of Egypt, and in this it speaks the truth. You are worthy of such an influence, for you use your power honorably.

Here then is an excellent opportunity for displaying your kindness as well as your power. My dear Eusebius stands in need of both. Hear what he has to say, and you will learn that I am recommending to you one who is also an orator.

Online 2007
Revision: 15 August 2007