SIMPLICIO. - Neoplatonic philosopher of the 6th century A.D. Biographical information is scant. He was a native of Cilicia, studied under Ammonio Ermeiu in Alexandria, and under Damascio in Athens.
When Giustiniano, by the Edict of 529, forbade pagans to teach philosophy in Athens and closed the Platonic school, confiscating its property, S., together with Damascio and five other colleagues, emigrated to Persia to the court of King Cosroe; he then returned to Athens in 533 and continued his activity as a writer. There remain of him commentaries on the De caelo, the Physica, the Categoriae, and the De anima of Aristotele, Epitteto (v.). They are valuable works, distinguished by a seriousness and sobriety of exegesis not found in other Neoplatonic commentators on the ancient philosophers. Some writings of S. have been lost; others are still unpublished.