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P. Aelius Aristides, surnamed Theodorus, one of the most cele­brated Greek rhetoricians of the second century, was the son of Eudaemon, a priest of Zeus, and born at Adriani in Mysia, according to some in 129, and according to others in 117. He showed extraordinary talents even in his early youth, and devoted himself with an al­most unparalleled zeal to the study of rhetoric, which appeared to him the worthiest occupation of a man, and along with it he cultivated poetry as an amusement. Besides the rhetorician Herodes Atticus, whom he heard at Athens, he also received instructions from Aristocles at Pergamum, from Polemon at Smyrna, and from the grammarian Alexander of Cottyaeum. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Aelius Aristides (AD 117 - 181) was a Greek orator during the Roman Empire, son of a wealthy land-owner, and considered an example of the Second Sophistic. ... Rhetoric (from Greek ρήτωρ, rhêtôr, orator, teacher) is the art or technique of persuasion, usually through the use of language. ... ( 1st century - 2nd century - 3rd century - other centuries) Events Roman Empire governed by the Five Good Emperors ( 96– 180) – Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius. ... Statue of Zeus Phidias created the 12-m (40-ft) tall statue of Zeus at Olympia about 435 BC. The statue was perhaps the most famous sculpture in Ancient Greece, imagined here in a 16th century engraving In Greek mythology, Zeus (in Greek: nominative: Ζεύς Zeús, genitive: Διός Díos) is... Giovanni Battista Adriani (1511 or 1513_1579) was an Italian historian. ... Mysia. ... Events Change of Patriarch of Constantinople from Patriarch Diogenes to Patriarch Eleutherius. ... // Events Trajan subdued a Judean revolt, then fell seriously ill, leaving Hadrian in command of the east. ... Lucius Vibullius Hipparchus Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes, commonly known as Herodes Atticus (c. ... Athens (Greek: Αθήνα, Athína IPA: ) is the capital and largest city of Greece and the birthplace of democracy. ... For the computing technology, see PLATO System. ... Pergamon or Pergamum (modern day Bergama in Turkey) was a Greek city, in northwestern Anatolia, 16 miles from the Aegean Sea, located on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus (modern day Bakir), that became an important kingdom during the Hellenistic period, under the Attalid dynasty, 282... Polemon is the name of several eminent ancient Greeks: Polemon of Athens, a 2nd century BC Platonic philosopher, also referred to as Polemon of Ilium Polemon (general), a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great Polemon (Cilicia), the name of a king of Cilicia in Anatolia. ... For other meanings of Smyrna, see Smyrna (disambiguation). ...

Life

After being sufficiently prepared for his profession, he travelled for some time, and visited various places in Asia and Africa, especially Egypt, Greece, and Italy. The fame of his talents and acquirements, which preceded him everywhere, was so great, that monuments were erected to his honor in several towns which he had honoured with his presence. Shortly before his return, and while yet in Italy, he was attacked by an illness which lasted for thirteen years. He had from his childhood been of a very weak constitution, but neither this nor his protracted illness prevented his prosecuting his studies, for he was well at intervals; and in his "Sermones Sacri" (a sort of diary of his illness and his recovery), he relates that he was frequently encouraged by visions in his dreams to cultivate rhetoric to the exclusion of all other studies. During this period and afterwards, he resided at Smyrna, whither he had gone on ac­count of its baths, but he made occasional excur­sions into the country, to Pergamus, Phocaea, and other towns. He had great influence with the emperor Marcus Aurelius, whose acquaintance he had formed in Ionia, and when in 178, Smyrna was to a great extent destroyed by an earthquake, Aristides represented the deplorable condition of the city and its inhabitants in such vivid colors to the emperor that he was moved to tears, and gene­rously assisted the Smyrnaeans in rebuilding their town. The Smyrnaeans showed their gratitude to Aristides by erecting to him a brazen statue in their agora, and by calling him the founder of their town. Va­rious other honours and distinctions were offered to him at Smyrna, but he refused them, and accept­ed only the office of priest of Asclepius, which he held until his death, about 180, according to some, at the age of 60, and according to others of 70. The circumstance of his living for so many years at Smyrna, and enjoying such great honors there, is probably the reason that in an epigram still extant he is regard­ed as a native of Smyrna. World map showing the location of Asia. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... Satellite photo showing location of the ancient cities of Phocaea, Cyme and Smyrna Phocaea (modern-day Foça in Turkey) was an ancient Ionian Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia. ... Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (April 26, 121[1] – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor from 161 to his death. ... Ionia (Greek Ιωνία; see also List of traditional Greek place names) was an ancient region of southwestern coastal Anatolia (now in Turkey) on the Aegean Sea. ... Events First condemnation of the Montanist heresy Last (7th) year of Xiping era and start of Guanghe era of the Chinese Han Dynasty. ... An agora (αγορά), translatable as marketplace, was an essential part of an ancient Greek polis or city-state. ... Asclepius (Greek also rendered Aesculapius in Latin and transliterated Asklepios) was the god of medicine and healing in ancient Greek mythology, according to which he was born a mortal but was given immortality as the constellation Ophiuchus after his death. ... For other uses, see number 180. ...

The memory of Aris­tides was honoured in several ancient towns by statues. One of these representing the rhetorician in a sitting attitude, was discovered in the 16th century, and is at present in the Vatican Museum. The museum of Verona contains an inscription to his honor. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Categories: Stub | Vatican City ... Country Italy Region Veneto Province Verona (VR) Mayor Paolo Zanotto Elevation 59 m Area 206. ...

Works

The works of Aristides extant are, fifty-five orations and declamations (including those which were discovered by Morelli and Mai), and two treatises on rhetorical subjects. Some of his orations are eulogies on the power of certain divinities, others are panegyrics on towns, such as Smyrna, Cizycus, Rome; one among them is a Panathenaicus, and an imitation of that of Isocrates. Others again treat on subjects con­nected with rhetoric and eloquence. The six orations mentioned above, have attracted considerable attention in the mid-19th century, on account of the various stories they contain respecting the cures of the sick in temples, and on account of the apparent resem­blance between these cures and those said to be effected by Mesmerism. A list of the orations extant as well as of the lost works of Aristides, is given in Fabricius (Bibl. Gr. vi p. 15, &c.), and more completely by Westermann. (Gesch. der Griech. Beredtsamk, p. 321, &c.) Aristides as an orator is much superior to the majority of rhetoricians in his time, whose great and only ambition was to shine and make a momentary impression by ex­tempore speeches, and a brilliant and dazzling style. Aristides, with whom thought was of far greater importance than the form in which it ap­peared, expressed that difference between himself and the other rhetoricians, at his first interview with the emperor, M. Aurelius. He despised the silly puns, the shallow witticisms and insignificant or­naments of his contemporaries, and sought nourish­ment for his mind in the study of the ancients. In his panegyric orations, however, he often en­deavoured to display as much brilliancy of style as he could. On the whole his style is brief and con­cise, but too frequently deficient in ease and clear­ness. His sentiments are often trivial and spun out to an intolerable length, which leaves the reader nothing to think upon for himself. His orations remind one of a man who is fond of hear­ing himself talk. Notwithstanding these defects, however, Aristides is still unsurpassed by any of his contemporaries. His admirers compared him to Demosthenes, and even Aristeides did not think himself much inferior. This vanity and self-sufficiency made him enemies and opponents, among whom are mentioned Palladius, Sergius, and Porphyrius. But the number of his admirers was far greater, and several learned grammarians wrote commen­taries on his orations. Besides Athanasius, Menander, and others, whose works are lost, we must mention especially Sopater of Apamea, who is pro­bably the author of the Greek Prolegomena to the orations of Aristides, and also of some among the Scholia on Aristides, which contain a great many things of importance for mythology, history, and antiquities. They also contain numerous fragments of works now lost. The greater part of these Scholia are probably compilations from the com­mentaries of Arethas, Metrophanes, and other grammarians. Nickname: The Eternal City Location within Province of Rome in the Region of Latium Coordinates: Region Latium Province Province of Rome Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1,285 km²  (496. ... Isocrates (436–338 BC), Greek rhetorician. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hypnosis, as defined by the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis, is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or experimental participant experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. ... Demosthenes (384–322 BC, Greek: Δημοσθένης) was a prominent Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. ... Palladius (fl. ... Sergius can refer to: Pope Sergius I Pope Sergius II Pope Sergius III Pope Sergius IV Saint Sergius Sergius of Radonezh Sergius Paulus Marcus Sergius This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Porphyry (Greek Πορφύριος purple-clad) may refer to: Saint Porphyry of Gaza, bishop of Gaza ca. ... Athanasius of Alexandria (also spelled Athanasios) was a Christian bishop of Alexandria in the fourth century. ... Bust of Menander Menander (342–291 BC) (Greek ), Greek dramatist, the chief representative of the New Comedy, was born in Athens. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology by William Smith (1867).