On the Mysteries

that many were followers of the man is clear, but what he said or saw that was notable is not revealed. But the wonderful Iamblichus seems to have suffered the same fate as those painters who, when painting beautiful youths in the bloom of their age, wishing to add some charm to their own work, instead disfigure the entire likeness, so that they wander equally from the intended model and from the true form. In a similar way, while this man strives to praise the philosopher with zeal for the truth, he demonstrates how atrocious were the punishments and misfortunes suffered by mortals in his era, but because he was unable to explain the causes and origins of these things politically, nor did he put great effort into it, he confused the whole structure of his life, leaving it for only the most sharp-sighted to grasp that he admired Alypius, and that he approved of his constancy and strength of mind in dangers and evils, as well as the sharpness and penetration of his speech. Alypius was Alexandrian by birth, of whom we have spoken thus far, and he died in his homeland worn out by old age, and after him Iamblichus, having sent forth and scattered many roots and fountains of philosophy. The one who writes these things happened upon this harvest of learned men, for the mentioned disciples were scattered in various directions throughout the whole Roman Empire: among them Aedesius chose for himself a seat in Pergamum of Mysia.
A woodcut depicts a printer's ornament.
The end of the life of Iamblichus written by Eunapius of Sardis.

there were many admirers of that man: but no testimony of any memorable deed or word is brought forward there. It certainly seems that the renowned Iamblichus labored under the same fault as those painters who, while painting handsome figures established in the flower of age, and wishing to add some allurement and grace of their own to the painting, they deprave the entire represented image, so that they stray equally from the proposed model and from the true form. In a similar way, while this man struggles to praise the man with a zeal for truth, he shows how atrocious were the punishments exercised in his time in the courts, how the mortals were pressed by heavy calamities, but he could not explain politically the causes and primary origins from which these things were born, nor did he apply great labor to it, and so he confused the entire formula of his life and all its lineaments, leaving it for the most keen-sighted to perceive that he admired Alypius, that he approved of his constancy and firmness of mind in dangers and evils, and furthermore the sharpness and penetration of his speech. Now Alypius was Alexandrian by birth, of whom we have spoken thus far, and he died in his homeland worn out by old age, and after him Iamblichus, having sent forth and scattered many roots and fountains of philosophy. The one who writes these things happened upon this harvest of learned men: for the mentioned disciples were scattered in various directions through the entire dominion of the Roman Empire: among whom Aedesius chose for himself a seat in Pergamum of Mysia.
The end of the Life of Iamblichus written by Eunapius of Sardis.

Iamblichus, a philosopher from Chalcis in Syria, a disciple of the philosopher Porphyry who was a student of Plotinus, lived around the times of the Emperor Constantine. He wrote various philosophical books.

Iamblichus, a philosopher originating from the city of Chalcis in Syria, a disciple of the philosopher Porphyry, who was a student of Plotinus, lived around the times of the Emperor Constantine. He wrote various books on philosophy.