SIMPLICIUS. - Neoplatonic philosopher of the 6th century A.D. Scant biographical information is available. He was a native of Cilicia, studied under Ammonius Hermiae in Alexandria and under Damascius in Athens.
When Justinian, by his Edict of 529, forbade pagans to teach philosophy in Athens and closed the Platonic school, confiscating its property, S., together with Damascius and five other colleagues, emigrated to Persia to the court of King Chosroes; he later returned to Athens in 533 and continued his activity as a writer. Of his works there remain commentaries on Aristotle’s *De caelo*, *Physica*, *Categories*, and *De anima*, and on Epictetus’ *Manual* (cf.). These are valuable works, characterized by a seriousness and sobriety of exegesis not found in other Neoplatonic commentators on ancient philosophers. Some writings of S. have been lost; others remain unpublished.