GIAMBLICO ('IÀΜΒΛΙΚΟΣ, IAMBLICHUS)

GIAMBLICO ('Iàμβλικος, Iamblichus). — Neoplatonic philosopher, b. at Chalcis in Celesyria, d. under Constantine the Great c. 330. Scanty information about his life, mixed with fanciful legends, is found in Eunapius (Vitae Philos. ac. Soph.). He was a pupil first of the Peripatetic Anatolius and then of Porphyry.

His principal work is a vast compendium of Pythagorean doctrines in 10 books, cited by Syrianus under the title: Συνταγωγή τῶν Πυθαγορικῶν δογμάτων, of which 5 books with special titles remain (v. BIBLICA). Important for the history of Neoplatonic religious syncretism is the book De mysteriis, whose authenticity was once questioned without serious grounds, but which is now generally attributed to G.