Texts of Synesius

Synesius of Cyrene (c.370-c.413): Neo-Platonic philosopher, sophist, and bishop of Ptolemais in the Cyrenaica.

Speeches

Essays

Hymns

Homilies

The Letters: Historical Order

394

395

396

397

398

399

400

401

402

403

404

405

406

407

408

409

410

411

412

413

The Letters: Order in the Manuscript

  1. To Nicander: The "Eulogy of Baldness" (402)
  2. To Joannes: An Insult (407)
  3. To his Brother: Very Bad Taste (402)
  4. To his Brother: Shipwreck (397)
  5. To the Bishops: The Arian Controversy (412)
  6. To Anysius: A Horse Thief (412)
  7. To Theodorus and his Sister: A False Rumor (395)
  8. To his Brother: A Reproach (411)
  9. To Theophilus: On a Paschal Letter (411)
  10. To the Philosopher: Losing Contact with the Outer World (413)
  11. To the Elders: Accepting the Bishopric (410)
  12. To Cyril: Congratulations (413)
  13. To Peter the Elder: Circular Letter Announcing the Paschal Date (412)
  14. To Anysius: A Horse Thief (412)
  15. To the Philosopher: A Densimeter (402)
  16. To the Philosopher: A Farewell (413)
  17. To Heliodorus: A Compliment (402)
  18. To his Brother: A Recommendation (404)
  19. To Herodes and Martyrius: A Recommendation (404)
  20. To Diogenes: A Recommendation (404)
  21. To the Governor: A Recommendation (404)
  22. To Anastasius: Congratulations (406)
  23. To Diogenes: A Complaint (408)
  24. To Simplicius: A Complaint (408)
  25. To Heliodorus: A Reproach (403)
  26. To Troilus: Gratitude (411)
  27. To Constans: A Recommendation (409)
  28. To Simplicius: A Request for Pardon (412)
  29. To Pentadius: The Burdens of Patronage (403)
  30. To Pentadius: A Request for Pardon (403)
  31. To Aurelian: An Adhortation to Remain Just
  32. To his Brother: A Bad Slave (402)
  33. To the Philosopher: In Praise of Alexander (394)
  34. To Aurelian: A Warning (398)
  35. To his Brother: Legacy Hunting (402)
  36. To his Brother: The Death of Castricius (402)
  37. To Anysius: Illness (411)
  38. To Aurelian: A Recommendation (401)
  39. To his Brother: Announcing One's Arrival (402)
  40. To Uranius: A Gift of a Horse (403)
  41. To a Friend: Hiring a Ship (395)
  42. To Cledonius: A Recommendation (411)
  43. To Anastasius: A Recommendation (402)
  44. To Joannes: An Open Letter to a Murderer (404)
  45. To Olympius: A Call for Assistance (412)
  46. To Anastasius: A Reproach (412)
  47. To Theotimus: A Recommendation (411)
  48. To Pylaemenes: On Pylaemenes' Return to Constantinople (408)
  49. To Theotimus: A Congratulation (407)
  50. To his Brother: The Assassination of Aemilius (404)
  51. To his Brother: The Aegean Sea (394)
  52. To his Brother: Buying a Mantle (402)
  53. To his Brother: On his Brother's Son (409)
  54. To his Brother: Athens (396)
  55. To his Brother: A Goodbye (396)
  56. To his Brother: On his Niece (396)
  57. Against Andronicus (this is not a letter but a speech) (412)
  58. To the Bishops: The Excommunication of Andronicus (412)
  59. To Anysius: A Recommendation (412)
  60. To Auxentius: Trying to Forget a Quarrel (410)
  61. To Pylaemenes: An Egyptian Rug (401)
  62. To the General: a Farewell (413)
  63. To Joannes: A Warning (407)
  64. To Joannes: A Warning (407)
  65. To his Bother: Sending Books (402)
  66. To Theophilus: Asking for Clarification (411)
  67. To Theophilus: Paul of Erythrum and Other Matters (411)
  68. To Theophilus: A Recommendation (411)
  69. To Theophilus: The Horrors of War (412)
  70. To Proclus: Death of Synesius' Son (413)
  71. To Pylaemenes: Trying to Reach a Friend (406)
  72. To the Bishops: The Beginning of the Andronicus Affair (411)
  73. To Troilus: The Destruction of the Cyrenaica (409)
  74. To Pylaemenes: The "Eulogy of Baldness" (402)
  75. To Nicander: A Recommendation (405)
  76. To Theophilus: Appointing a Bishop (411)
  77. To Anysius: A Quick Note (411)
  78. To Anysius: The Unnigardae (411)
  79. To Anastasius: Andronicus (411)
  80. To Theophilus: Nicaeus (412)
  81. To the Philosopher: Death of Synesius' Son; a Recommendation (413)
  82. To his Brother: A Recommendation (409)
  83. To Chryses: A Recommendation (409)
  84. To his Brother: A Recommendation (409)
  85. To his Brother: A Recommendation (409)
  86. To his Brother: A Recommendation (409)
  87. To his Brother: A Recommendation of a Group of Soldiers (411)
  88. To Pylaemenes: A Lost Friend (401)
  89. To his Brother: Self-Pity (412)
  90. To Theophilus: Andronicus (411)
  91. To Troilus: A Recommendation (411)
  92. To his Brother: On Speaking Bluntly (402)
  93. To Hesychius: Canceling a Fine (411)
  94. To Anysius: War (411)
  95. To his Brother: "Even Enemies Have Their Uses" (407)
  96. To Olympius: Becoming Bishop; Spiritual Crisis (410)
  97. To Olympius: Greetings (403)
  98. To Olympius: Gratitude (403)
  99. To Olympius: Recommendation of a Poet (403)
  100. To Pylaemenes: An Introduction (402)
  101. To Pylaemenes: Literary Life (402)
  102. To Pylaemenes: A Recommendation (402)
  103. To Pylaemenes: The Benefits of Philosophy (402)
  104. To his Brother: Cowardly Behavior during a War (401)
  105. To his Brother: On Becoming a Bishop (409)
  106. To his Brother: On Gardening (402)
  107. To his Brother: On the Right of Self-Defense (407)
  108. To his Brother: Preparing for War (407)
  109. To his Brother: A Visit Postponed (402)
  110. To his Brother: Chilas (396)
  111. To Troilus: On Declamation (409)
  112. To Troilus: On Praise and Love (399)
  113. To his Brother: On Going to War (401)
  114. To his Brother: An Invitation (402)
  115. To the Doctor Theodorus: On Want (394)
  116. To Auxentius: An Apology (410)
  117. To Heliodorus: A Recommendation (403)
  118. To Troilus: A Recommendation (406)
  119. To Trypho: A Recommendation (406)
  120. To his Brother: Asking for Information (401)
  121. To Athanasius: Separation of Church and State (410)
  122. To his Brother: A Successful Engagement (407)
  123. To Troilus: Missing an Old Friend (404)
  124. To the Philosopher: A City in Wartime (401)
  125. To his Brother: Building an Army (405)
  126. To Asclepiodotus: Death of Synesius' Son (413)
  127. To his Brother: A Greedy Governor (404)
  128. To a Bishop: Consolation (412)
  129. To Pylaemenes: Various Matters (403)
  130. To Simplicius: Cyrene Besieged (405)
  131. To Pylaemenes: A Recommendation (406)
  132. To his Brother: War (405)
  133. To Olympius: Preparations for War (405)
  134. To Pylaemenes: Various Matters (406)
  135. To his Brother: A Recommendation (396)
  136. To his Brother: A Visit to Athens (396)
  137. To Herculian: A Difficult Goodbye (395)
  138. To Herculian: A Friendly Reproach (395)
  139. To Herculian: Longing for a Lost Friend (395)
  140. To Herculian: On Being a Man (402)
  141. To Herculian: A Lost Text (402)
  142. To Herculian: Reproaches and Encouragement (402)
  143. To Herculian: A Reproach (402)
  144. To Herculian: A Recommendation (402)
  145. To Herculian: A Runaway Slave (395)
  146. To Herculian: Friendship and Philosophy (402)
  147. To Joannes: Congratulations to a Novice (412)
  148. To Olympius: The Good Life (408)
  149. To Olympius: Presents Received (408)
  150. To Pylaemenes: A Recommendation (407)
  151. To Pylaemenes: A Salute (407)
  152. To Pylaemenes: The Definition of Love (402)
  153. To Pylaemenes: A Polite Reproach (409)
  154. To the Philosopher: On his own Writings (404)
  155. To Domitian, the Jurist: A Recommendation (409)
  156. To Domitian, the Jurist: An Offer to Help (409)
  157. To Chryso-...: Spring (412)
  158. To Chryso-...: An Impossible Visit (412)
  159. To an unknown correspondent: Olive Oil (411)

Literature