Porphyrius (234 â 305), Plotinusâ disciple and editor of his Enneads, addresses his letter to Marcella, an aging woman, whom he married late in life. He explains to her the reasons for leaving her, after only ten months of marriage. He invites her to leave passions behind to lead a philosophical life along the lines of the major ethical principles inspired by Plato. Porphyrius takes a strong stand as an apologist of traditional philosophical teachings. The Letter to Marcella provides a unique account on the ways and principles along which a philosophical life should be led.
The Letter to Marcella survives as a single manuscript that dates from the 15th century. It is here introduced, edited, translated and annotated.
"Pradeau has managed to create a high-quality edition that truly helps both researchers and the general public understand the Letter to Marcella, reviving the classical tradition of the bilingual edition, which is less common than translations. Most importantly, Pradeau has also succeeded in reviving and drawing attention to the literary and historical image of the educated woman in antiquity, exemplified by Marcella." - Sonsoles Costero-Quiroga, Complutense University of Madrid, in: Bryn Mawr Classical Review (2025)
Jean-François Pradeau is Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the University of Lyon. Co-director with Luc Brisson of the French translation of Plotinusâ Enneads (Flammarion, 2002-2010), he published several translations, monographs and articles devoted to the Platonic papers, amongst which Lâimitation du principe. Plotin et la participation, Paris, 2003.