(Πορφύριος), a celebrated Neo-Platonist, and an antagonist of Christianity, was born at Tyre, of a distinguished family, in A.D. 233. His original name was Mālehus, a word signifying king; but he received his usual designation, in allusion to the colour of his robes, from his master Longinus. When very young he was placed under the instruction of Origen, most probably at Caesarea. On removing to Athens, he took lessons from Apollonius and Longinus. At the age of twenty he went to Rome to visit Plotinus, but finding that the latter had closed his instructions there, he returned to the East. For the next ten years of his life nothing is known regarding him. Plotinus having returned to Rome, Porphyry, then in his thirtieth year, joined Antonius of Rhodes, and went in quest of the great Neo-Platonist. Among his earliest works in the city of Rome was to assail a dogma of Plotinus in a written treatise. Amelius, the pupil and friend of Plotinus, drew up a reply, which was met by Porphyry, and a rejoinder was called for from Amelius. This rejoinder satisfied the inquirer, and he wrote a recantation. Porphyry gained so thoroughly the confidence and approbation of Plotinus that he was regarded by the latter as the ornament of his school. The Tyrian had assigned to him the task of correcting and arranging the writings of his master. After a six years' acquaintancehip, Porphyry, at the advice of Plotinus, retired to Sicily. Here he occupied himself, according to Eusebius, in writing his treatise against the Christian religion, in 15 books. He subsequently visited Carthage, and ultimately settled at Rome, where his instructions were held in great esteem by the Senate and the people. He married Marcella, a widow with seven children, when far advanced in life, to enjoy, as he expressed it, the pleasure of superintending their education. Ten months after his marriage he had occasion to leave home, and wrote to his wife a consolatory epistle, which is still extant. Porphyry probably died about A.D. 305 or 306.

The philosophical doctrines of Porphyry were in all respects identical with those of Plotinus. He was a man of great abilities and very extensive learning. Yet he is charged with inconsistencies and contradictions. As a writer he is tolerably clear; and not unfrequently exhibits strokes of vigorous imagination. Though much less confused than his master, he was likewise much less profound. Of the very numerous writings of Porphyry nineteen are still extant in whole or in part, including his works on portions of Aristotle; while no less than thirty-seven are said to be lost. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec., vol. v.; Ritter, Geschichte der Philosophie, vol. iv.; and Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Myth.)