Porphyry

Born in the family of the indigenous inhabitants of the Phoenician city of Tire on behalf of the Malkus and was named after his father. But Malkus-son, being carried away by Hellenism, later changed its name to the Greek Semitic Bazileus ( "king"), and then - on Porphyry ( "the purple robe"). Porphyry studied philosophy in Rome, Plotinus, Iamblichus was a teacher and probably F. Mathern; ca. 300 g. written astrological treatise in 55 chapters, "Introduction" ( "Eisagoge"), largely based on the writings of Antiochus, and Ptolemy, and partly Nehepsona and Petosirida.
Porfiry also belong to the commentary to "Tetrabiblosu" (their quotes Hephaestion). Critics accused Porphyry in studies of magic, even in the invocation state of trance, because he was a devotee of mysteries and for several years studying eastern raja yoga. One of his greatest disappointments was the fact that until his 60 years he could not reach a state of ecstasy.
Porphyry devoted his life to studying the contribution of philosophy in modern. He believed that the soul must be, as far as possible, free from the shackles of the material, and recommended to adhere to moderation and abstinence.
Porphyry was outstanding systematists, he consolidated statements Dam of six courses of lectures on nine tracts in each - in the so-called. "Ennead" Dam, he distributed the astrological houses in relation to light and darkness, he formulated the law of life, . purpose of which - cleaning, he saw man as a trinity of material being, . life and mind, he outlined five basic structures of the universe (Universal): genus, . kind, . Unlike, . property and the case.,
. Porphyry - by introducing a "category" of Aristotle and commentaries "Timeyu Plato
.

Porphyry developed a doctrine of esoteric astrology Sverhsuschem as the basis of the universe and its three principles, or manifestations, and the birth of the world by descending emanations. He was interested in going beyond the limits of earthly existence, one way of considering this was a visible demonstration of the huge gap between the two located opposite each other on a vertical angular houses horoscope, . denotes the distance between heaven (MC) and Earth (IC), . ie,
. physical place of birth rights. Middle of the sky Porfiry considered extremely important point, interpreting it as the personification of the soul a man sent to his body. The result Porphyry reflection on this subject was the creation of the original system of houses.

. Like many Neoplatonists, . Porfiry deeply revered Jesus Christ, . but the religion of Christianity, with its rigid universalism aroused Porphyry implacable hostility, . which he justified in a big polemic "15 books against the Christians", . come down to us only in a few passages in the works of writers of the Church,
. Well-known theologian Apollinary Laodikeysky (310-390) wrote 30 volumes of objections Porfiry.
Works Porphyry virtually unknown to us, since V - VI centuries. systematically destroyed the church.