AENEAS OF GAZA. — By the end of the 5th century, a new center of artistic and intellectual culture had formed in Gaza. AENEAS (c. 450–534) carried on in this city, as a Christian philosopher, an activity comparable to that once carried on by Clement and Origen in Alexandria.
Although a disciple of the Neoplatonic philosopher Hierocles, he clearly distinguished between Platonism and Christianity, affirming in his dialogue *Theophrastus* the immateriality of the soul, denying its pre-existence, and combating the doctrine of the eternity of the world. It is significant that this work also seeks to explain the resurrection of the body. Thus the Platonic form and language of his writing should not mislead us as to the fundamentally Christian character of his thought. Twenty-five short letters of his have also been preserved.