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Chronology

bce c.427–347 Plato

384–322 Aristotle
mid-4th Crantor (Plato’s student) writes a partial commentary on the
century Timaeus
c.330 Zenon of Citium starts teaching in the Stoa poikilē in the Athenian
agora, founding the Stoic school of philosophy
c.315–241 Arcesilaus
c.306 Epicurus starts teaching at the garden (kēpos)
266 Arcesilaus becomes head of Plato’s Academy, and under his lead the
Academy turns sceptical. Teaching at Aristotle’s Lyceum stagnates
c.100–60 Aristotelian “revival” with an edition of Aristotle’s esoteric works.
Anonymous Commentary on the Theaetetus is the first (preserved)
linear commentary (dating uncertain). Andronicus and his pupils
Boethus of Sidon, Nicolaus of Damascus, Alexander of Aegae and
Sotion begin writing on the Categories. The Platonists Aristo of
Alexandria, Cratippus and Eudorus start writing on the Categories.
Teaching at Plato’s Academy is interrupted
ce c.100–150 Aspasius
After 100 Commentary by Aspasius (in EN) is the first (partly) preserved
commentary on Aristotle. Adrastus, Herminus, Sosigenes, Aristotle
of Mytilene emerge as commentators. Platonist attacks on Aristotle
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by Atticus, Lucius and Nicostratus

129–216 Galen: a Platonist doctor
198–209 Alexander of Aphrodisias is nominated as the holder of the Aristote-
lian chair in Athens
205–70 Plotinus: in Rome

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 the ancient comment a t ors on pl a t o and ar ist o tle

c.234–305 Porphyry: Plotinus’ student and a commentator

c.240–325 Iamblichus
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c.304 Iamblichus, having perhaps been a student of Porphyry, returns to

Syria to found a school
c.320 Dexippus, follower of Iamblichus, dies
c.317–88 Themistius: in Constantinople
Late 300s/ Plutarch of Athens
early 400s
411–85 Proclus: born in Constantinople, studies in Alexandria
431 Proclus comes to Athens from Alexandria to study under Plutarch
of Athens and Syrianus. Syrianus succeeds Plutarch of Athens as
head of Plato’s Academy
435/45–517/26 Ammonius, in Alexandria: his father is Hermeias
c.480–524/5 Boethius, in Rome, a Christian
Late 400s Hermeias and Ammonius (his son) lead the Alexandrian school;
John Philoponus (a Christian) and Simplicius study there with
Ammonius
529–31 Justinian’s edicts cause closure of the Athenian Platonic school
531 Simplicius continues working, first in Persia, then in an uncertain
location. In Alexandria, Olympiodorus follows Ammonius as the
head of the Alexandrian school
500s The first translations and commentaries are made by Syrians
onwards on Aristotle’s Categories
700s–900s Teaching continues in the Byzantine world, even though real
universities do not yet exist. Arabic philosophy grows and after 750s
begins an active translation movement of Greek works into Arabic,
often via Syriac. Aristotle’s Theology, a paraphrase of some of Plotinus’
Enneads is influential and connected to the works of Aristotle.
c.730– Byzantine commentaries on Aristotle. The only commentary on
Plato from that period is George Pachymeres’ supplement to Proclus
on the last sections of the Parmenides
980–1037 Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna): writes extensive commentaries on Aristotle’s
works
1000s Michael Psellos comments on and paraphrases Aristotle’s Organon
Early 1100s Michael of Ephesus and Eustratius of Nicaea work on a project of
commenting on neglected works by Aristotle initiated by princess
Anna Komnene. Michael of Ephesus writes several commentar-
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ies on Aristotle’s biological works (e.g. De partibus animalium and

Parva naturalia) and on the Nicomachean Ethics. Eustratius writes
on Posterior Analytics Book II and the Nicomachean Ethics
1126–98 Ibn Rushd (Averroes): continues commenting on Aristotle, writing
commentaries of three different lengths (short, intermediate, long)

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