ΦΙΛΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ
Philostratus, a name meaning "lover of the army" or "friend of the army," became synonymous with a distinguished family of Greek Sophists and writers of Late Antiquity. The Philostrati, notably Philostratus of Athens and Philostratus of Lemnos, shaped the image of the Second Sophistic, reviving classical rhetoric and literature. Its lexarithmos (1781) suggests a complex and multifaceted personality, befitting their rich intellectual legacy.
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The name Philostratus (Φιλόστρατος, ὁ) is a compound proper noun derived from the words φίλος ("beloved, friend") and στρατός ("army, expeditionary force"). Its literal meaning is "one who loves the army" or "friend of the army." This appellation was common in ancient Greece, often reflecting parents' desire for a son with military virtues or an honorific toward the city-state and its defense.
The fame of the name is inextricably linked to a family of distinguished Greek Sophists and writers, who were active primarily during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE, a period known as the Second Sophistic. The most prominent among them is Philostratus of Athens (c. 170-245 CE), author of the "Lives of the Sophists" and the "Life of Apollonius of Tyana," works that constitute invaluable sources for the intellectual life of the era.
Other members of the family include Philostratus of Lemnos (nephew of the Athenian), author of the "Imagines," and Philostratus the Younger, also an author of "Imagines." Their contribution was crucial for the preservation and revival of classical Greek literature and rhetoric, profoundly influencing Late Antiquity and Byzantium.
Etymology
The family of Philostratus stems from its two constituent roots: the root PHILO- and the root STRATOS. From the PHILO- root derive words such as φιλῶ (to love), φίλος (friend), φιλία (friendship), φιλοσοφία (love of wisdom). From the STRATOS root derive στρατός (army), στρατηγός (general), στρατεύω (to campaign). The synthesis of these roots also produces other words such as φιλοστρατία (love of military service) or φιλόπολις (lover of the city).
Main Meanings
- Proper Name — A male proper name meaning "one who loves the army" or "friend of the army."
- Family of Sophists — Refers to the renowned family of Greek Sophists and writers of the Second Sophistic (2nd-3rd c. CE), most notably Philostratus of Athens.
- Author of "Lives of the Sophists" — Philostratus of Athens, who chronicled the biographies and achievements of the most important rhetoricians and philosophers of his era.
- Author of "Life of Apollonius of Tyana" — A novelistic work by Philostratus of Athens narrating the life and miracles of the Neopythagorean philosopher Apollonius.
- Author of "Imagines" — Philostratus of Lemnos and Philostratus the Younger, who composed descriptions of imaginary works of art (ekphraseis).
- Representative of the Second Sophistic — The name Philostratus symbolizes the revival of classical Greek education, rhetoric, and literature during the Roman Imperial period.
Word Family
PHILO- and STRATOS (roots of φιλῶ "to love" and στρατός "army")
The family of Philostratus originates from the synthesis of two powerful Ancient Greek roots: PHILO- (from φιλῶ, φίλος) which expresses love, friendship, and preference, and STRATOS (from στρατός) which refers to organization, battle, and community. This synthesis is characteristic of Greek nomenclature, creating names that reflect ideals and virtues. Each member of the family highlights an aspect of these fundamental concepts, either as an autonomous root or as part of compound words, maintaining their inherent Greek origin.
Philosophical Journey
The history of the name Philostratus, beyond its etymological meaning, is inextricably linked to the intellectual flourishing of the Roman Empire and the period of the Second Sophistic.
In Ancient Texts
The Philostrati, as leading representatives of rhetoric, left behind a rich body of written work. The following are characteristic excerpts from their works, highlighting their style and content.
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΦΙΛΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ is 1781, from the sum of its letter values:
1781 decomposes into 1700 (hundreds) + 80 (tens) + 1 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΦΙΛΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 1781 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 8 | 1+7+8+1=17 → 1+7=8 — Octad, a symbol of balance, order, and rebirth, reflecting the Philostrati's endeavor to revive classical education. |
| Letter Count | 11 | 11 letters — Hendecad, the number of transcendence and transformation, fitting their intellectual influence. |
| Cumulative | 1/80/1700 | Units 1 · Tens 80 · Hundreds 1700 |
| Odd/Even | Odd | Masculine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | Φ-Ι-Λ-Ο-Σ-Τ-Ρ-Α-Τ-Ο-Σ | Philos Ischyros Lampros Ho Stratos Tes Romes Aei Te Ho Soter. (Friend, Strong, Brilliant, The Army of Rome, Always The Savior — an interpretation connecting the name to the idea of a protector and strength). |
| Grammatical Groups | 4V · 1A · 6C | 4 vowels (I, O, A, O), 1 aspirate consonant (Φ), 6 other consonants (Λ, Σ, Τ, Ρ, Τ, Σ). Total 11 letters. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Sun ☉ / Virgo ♍ | 1781 mod 7 = 3 · 1781 mod 12 = 5 |
Isopsephic Words (1781)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (1781) as Philostratus, but deriving from different roots, offering an interesting numerical coincidence:
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 37 words with lexarithmos 1781. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed. with revised supplement. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996.
- Philostratus — Lives of the Sophists. Trans. W. C. Wright. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1921.
- Philostratus — Life of Apollonius of Tyana. Trans. F. C. Conybeare. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1912.
- Philostratus the Elder, Philostratus the Younger — Imagines. Trans. A. Fairbanks. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1931.
- Bowersock, G. W. — Greek Sophists in the Roman Empire. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1969.
- Whitmarsh, T. — The Second Sophistic. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
- Papathomopoulos, M. — Lexicon of Proper Names in Ancient Greek Literature. Athens: Papazisis Publications, 2007.