Ammonius Saccas (3rd century A.D.) was a Greek philosopher of Alexandria, often called the founder of the
neo-Platonic school. Of humble origin, he appears to have earned a livelihood as a porter; hence his nickname of "Sack-bearer" (
Sakkas, for
sakkoforos). The details of his life are unknown, insomuch that he has frequently been confused with
a Christian philosopher of the same name.
Eusebius (
Church History, vi. 19), who is followed by
Jerome, asserts that he was born a
Christian, remained faithful to Christianity throughout his life, and even produced two works called
The Harmony of Moses and Jesus and the
Diatessaron, or
Harmony of the Four Gospels. Porphyry
?, quoted by Eusebius (vi. 19. 6), however, says that
he apostatized in later life and left no writings behind
him. There seems no reason, therefore, to doubt that Eusebius
is here referring to the Christian philosopher. After long
study and meditation, Ammonius opened a school of philosophy in
Alexandria. His principal pupils were Herennius, the two
Origens, Cassius Longinus and Plotinus
?. As he designedly
wrote nothing, and, with the aid of his pupils, kept his
views secret, after the manner of the Pythagoreans
?, his
philosophy must be inferred mainly from the writings of
Plotinus. As Zeller points out, however, there is reason
to think that his doctrines were rather those of the earlier
Platonists than those of Plotinus. Hierocles
?, writing in the
5th century A.D., states that his fundamental doctrine was
an eclecticism, derived from a critical study of
Plato and
Aristotle. His admirers credited him with having reconciled
the quarrels of the two great schools. His death is variously
given between A.D. 240 and 245.
See also Neo-Platonism and Origen.
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Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed