XVII. START OF THE AMELIO-PORPHYRIAN CON TROVERSY, OVER NUMENIUS.
The Greeks insisted that Plotinos had appropriated the teachings of Numenius. Trypho, who was both a Stoic and a Platonist, insisted on this to Amelius, who wrote a book that we have entitled, “On the Differ ence Between the Teachings of Plotinos and Numen ius. ” He dedicated it to me under the title, To Basil” (the King, recently used as a name, “Royal”). That was my name before I was called “Porphyry,” the “Purple One.” In my own home language (Phoenic ian) I used to be called “Malchus”; that was my father s name, and in Greek “Malchus” is translated by “Basil- eus” (Basil, or King). Indeed, Longinus, who dedi cated his book “On Instinct” to Cleodamus, and me jointly, there calls me “Malchus”; and Amelius has translated this name in Greek, just as Numenius trans lated “Maximus” (from Latin into Greek by) “Mega- os” (the great one). (I will quote the letter in full).
“Greetings from Amelius to Basil (Royal, or Purple One) :
“You may be sure that I did not have the least inclination even to mention some otherwise respectable people who, to the point of deafening you, insist that the doctrines of our friend (Plotinos) are none other than those of Numenius of Apamea. It is evident enough that these reproaches are entirely due to their desire to advertise their oratorical abilities. Possessed with the desire to rend Plotinos to pieces, they dare to o-o as far as to assert that he is no more than a babbler, a forger, and that his opinions are impossible. But since you think that it would be well for us to seize the occasion to recall to the public the teachings of which we approve (in Plotinos s system of philosophy), and in order to honor so great a man as our friend Plotinos by spreading his teachings although this really is needless, inasmuch as they have long since become celebrated I comply with your request, and, in accordance with my promise, I am hereby inscribing to you this work which, as you well know, I threw together in three days. You will not find in it that system and judiciousness natural to a book composed with care; they are only reflections suggested by the lectures (received from Plotinos), and arranged as they happened to come to mind. I, therefore, throw myself on your indulgence, especially as the thought of (Plotinos, that) philosopher whom some people are slandering to us, is not easy to grasp, because he ex presses the same ideas in different manners in accord ance with the exigencies of the occasion. I am sure you will have the goodness to correct me, if I happen to stray from the opinions of Plotinos. As the tragic poet says somewhere, being overwhelmed with the pressure of duties, I find myself compelled to submit to criticism and correction if I am discovered in altering the doctrines of our leader. You see how anxious I am to please you. Farewell!”