Aedesius
(
Αἰδέσιος). A Cappadocian, a Platonic, or more correctly
an Eclectic, philosopher, who lived in the fourth century A.D., and was the friend and most
distinguished scholar of
Iamblichus (q.v.). After
the death of his master, the school of Syria was dispersed, and Aedesius, fearing the real or
fancied hostility of the Christian emperor Constantine to philosophy, took refuge in
divination. An oracle in hexameter verse represented a pastoral life as his only retreat; but
his disciples, perhaps calming his fears by a metaphorical interpretation, compelled him to
resume his instructions. He settled at Pergamos, where he numbered among his pupils the
Emperor Julian. After the accession of the latter to the imperial purple, he invited Aedesius
to continue his instructions, but the philosopher, being unequal to the task through age, sent
in his stead Chrysanthes and Eusebius , his disciples. See his life by Eunapius.