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Secondary sourceBookc. 530s AD

Commentary on the Enchiridion of Epictetus

Simplicius of Cilicia · c. 530s AD

A 6th-century Neoplatonist commentary by Simplicius of Cilicia on Epictetus's Enchiridion, an important source for what later generations knew of his life.

A late-antique commentary that records key biographical details about Epictetus, including his lameness.

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Plain dark red-brown leather book cover with mottled texture, faded lighter streaks and worn spots, and no visible title or text. Likely the binding of an antique book.
Simplicius of Cilicia, Commentary on the Enchiridion of Epictetus, c. 530s AD. 1721 English edition (George Stanhope, translator).

About this source

What it is

This is a commentary on the Enchiridion of Epictetus, written by the Neoplatonist philosopher Simplicius of Cilicia around the 530s AD, several centuries after Epictetus's death. The image shows the leather cover of a 1721 English edition pairing Epictetus's text with Simplicius's commentary.

Why it matters

Simplicius's commentary is the major surviving ancient reading of the Enchiridion, and it records the detail that Epictetus was lame from childhood. It shows how later philosophers kept engaging with Epictetus's teaching long after his lifetime, and it is one of the few ancient sources for facts about his life.

Look closer

  • Why might details about Epictetus's physical condition matter to later readers of his philosophy?
  • What does it mean that much of what we know about Epictetus comes from someone writing centuries after he died?
  • How might a commentator's own philosophical views shape the way he explains an earlier thinker's words?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Epictetus on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page and opening of Chapter I of the Enchiridion of Epictetus, a 1683 edition with Greek and Latin text in two columns, a decorated initial letter, and Latin commentary below.Book

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Enchiridion of Epictetus

Arrian · early 2nd century AD (this edition 1683)

A photographed page of an ancient Greek manuscript on aged, yellowed parchment with brownish edges. Dense lines of handwritten Greek script fill the page, with a large dark brown stain in the center obscuring part of the text. A small circular library stamp appears on the right side, and a marginal number is visible at the upper right. Some marginal notes are written at the lower right.Book

Secondary source

Discourses of Epictetus

Arrian · c. 108 AD

A photographed page of an old handwritten Greek manuscript on yellowed, worn parchment. The dense brown-black lines of script are written in a cursive hand, with a large dark stain in the middle obscuring part of the text. A circular library stamp is visible at the upper right and another near the bottom. Faded marginal notes appear on the right side.Document

Secondary source

Codex Bodleianus

c. 11th-12th century

Title page of a 1558 Latin and Greek edition of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, printed in Zurich by Andreas Gesner. The page lists Xylander as translator and includes a second title for Marinus' Life of Proclus.Book

Primary source

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius · c. 170-180 AD (this edition printed 1558)

Scan of the inside cover or flyleaf of a book, grey and aged, with an oval library stamp reading 'Bibliotheque de la Ville de Poitiers' and 'D 3463' at top left, and handwritten shelfmark 'v. 33.' and 'in 8°' in the centre. No title page text is visible.Book

Secondary source

Altercacion, dialogue de l'Empereur Adrian et du Philosophe Epictete

Jean de Coras (translator)

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