THEMISTIUS, a Greek orator and philosopher, was a native of Paphlagonia, and flourished during the latter half of the fourth century. He became very eminent as a public teacher of philosophy, and distinguished himself by commentaries on some of the works of Aristotle. His eloquence procured him the appellation of Εὐφράδης, or the Eloquent. At Constantinople he taught for twenty years. Having been invited to Rome, he removed to that city, but, after an interval of two years, returned to his former place of residence, and there spent the remainder of his life. He
Themisto- was married, and had children. Although he adhered to
eles the pagan superstitions, Constantius admitted him to the
Theocritus. senate in the year 355; and his panegyrical oration on that
emperor procured him the honour of a statue. From Julian,
a pagan and a philosopher, he received in 362 the higher
distinction of being nominated prefect of Constantinople.
In 384 he obtained the same appointment from Theodosius
the Great.
Themistius is regarded as one of the best writers of this
declining age of Grecian literature. The first edition of
his works, including commentaries on Aristotle, and only
eight orations, was published by Trincavellus, Venet. 1534,
fol. His orations afterwards found a very learned editor,
Dionysius Petavius, who published two different editions,
Flexue, 1613, 8vo, Paris. 1618, 4to. This second edition
contains nineteen orations; but thirty-three are included
in the edition of Hardouin, Paris. 1684, fol. To this num-
ber an addition has lately been made by Angelo Mai:
"Themistii Philosophi Oratio in eos a quibus ob Prefectura
susceptam fuerat vituperatus, inventore et interprete
Angelo Maio, Bibliothecæ Ambrosianæ a LL. OO." Mediolani,
1816, 4to & 8vo.