Libanius

Libanius was a prominent teacher of rhetoric and a member of the Sophist school in the Eastern Roman Empire during the 4th century AD. Born in Antioch around 314 AD, he came from a once-influential family that had fallen on hard times. He began studying rhetoric at age fourteen, dedicating himself to philosophy. Despite living during the rise of Christian hegemony, Libanius remained a practicing pagan. His prolific writings, which include over 1,600 letters, 64 speeches, and 96 rhetorical exercises, provide invaluable historical insight into the Greek East in the 4th century. He was a friend of Emperor Julian, and his works also comment on the challenges faced by traditional pagan culture amidst increasing Christian influence. Though not a Christian himself, his students included notable Christians like John Chrysostom and Theodore of Mopsuestia. He died in Antioch in 392 or 393 AD.