a Neo-Platonic philosopher of Alexandria, flourished in the former half of the sixth century, immediately before the Pagan schools were closed by the edict of Justinian. He delivered comments upon the Gorgias, Philebus, Phaedo, and Alcibiades I. of Plato. These scholia evince extensive learning, and a special acquaintance with Iamblichus, Syrianus, Damascius, and other Neo-Platonists. They also contain many striking and clearly apprehended modifications of the doctrine of the Alexandrian school. The most important of these is the distinction drawn between religion and philosophy. According to Olympiodorus, religion teaches by allegories, philosophy by clear and distinct thoughts; the former presents an inert and barren symbol to the imagination, the latter fixes a living and procreative idea in the mind. It is therefore necessary that philosophy should strip off the allegorical dress of religious doctrines, and expose the naked truth within. Accordingly he gives a metaphysical and moral interpretation to the principal classical myths. Another interesting feature in the scholia of Olympiodorus is his occasional treatment of the great questions in psychology and moral science. He holds that reason is the supreme element in the soul, and has a right to rule over sensibility and will, the two other elements. This doctrine leads him to maintain that the moral nature of man is in its best state only when it is wholly subject to reason, and that virtue is nothing else than wisdom. The human soul, thus governed by a principle more elevated than its fellows, he assumes to be the model for all political communities, and infers, like his master Plato, that an aristocratic government is the best.

The scholia of Olympiodorus on the above-mentioned dialogues of Plato have not come down to us entire, but only in notes of his lectures taken by his students. Some of the scholia on the Phaedo were published by Forster, Oxford, 1745; those on the Gorgias by Routh, Oxford, 1785; those on the Alcibiades I. by Creuzer, Frankfort, 1821; and those on the Philebus, by Stallbaum, Leipzig, 1826. Olympiodorus is also the author of a Life of Plato, which has been published by Etwall, London, 1771; and by Fischer, Leipzig, 1783; in both cases along with some of the Platonic dialogues. A philosophical analysis and a bibliographical summary of his works are given in Cousin's Fragments Philosophiques, 4th edition, 12mo, Paris, 1847.