Elias

Elias (; ; fl. 6th century) was a Greek scholar and a commentator on Aristotle and Porphyry. Life No information has been handed down about the life of Elias; all assumptions represented in the research are deductions from circumstantial evidence in his works. That he was at least nominally a Christian is inferred from his Christian name, but has not been proven conclusively. His thinking is influenced by Neoplatonism, the dominant philosophical direction in late antiquity. Numerous passages in writings, some of which are certain, some of which are assumed to be by Elias, correspond to passages in the works of Olympiodorus the Younger. Olympiodorus was a prominent pagan philosopher who taught in the Neoplatonic school of Alexandria in the late-6th century. It is therefore reasonable to assume that Elias also lived and taught in Alexandria and that he was a student of Olympiodorus. However, the assumption that Olympiodorus was the head (scholarch) of the school and that Elias succeeded him in this office is speculative. Elias' probable participation in Olympiodorus's lessons gives an approximate chronological classification of his philosophical activity, because Olympiodorus is last attested to be alive in the year 565. Elias bore the title apo epárchōn (apoeparch, former eparch). Since the term eparch was often used for high administrative officials, it has been assumed that the philosopher was identical with an eparch (praetorian prefect) of Illyria of the same name, who held the office in 541. In the Eastern Roman Empire, however, the title of apoeparch was also given to scholars on an honorary basis; hence the implication that Elias exercised office is not compelling.