The Life of a Platonist

Porphyry wants to leave the reader with the strong impression that he, Porphyry, is Platonists' most cherished and important disciple. He has some competition here from another disciple of Platonists named Amelius. The story evokes a slightly otherworldly Platonist's sage more acute in mind than in sensation. But perhaps I'm putting Porphyry himself in an unfairly bad light. His hunch is that their relationship was more one of friendly competition than serious rivalry.