Maximus of Ephesus sculpture – 3D MODEL

Maximus of Ephesus was a Neoplatonic philosopher of late antiquity, born around the 4th century CE in Ephesus, an important city of the Roman Empire in Anatolia (Turkey). He distinguished himself as one of the most prominent disciples of the Syrian Neoplatonic philosopher Damascius and succeeded him at the School of Athens. As a Neoplatonic philosopher, Maximus studied and promoted the teachings of Plato and his disciple Plotinus. He delved into metaphysical and spiritual philosophy, exploring topics such as the nature of the soul, the One, and ultimate reality.

His writings tackled complex and profound philosophical questions, influenced by both the Platonic and Neoplatonic traditions. Maximus also played a significant role in the revival of interest in Platonic thought during the late antique period. His influence spread through his teachings and writings, which were instrumental in preserving and transmitting Neoplatonic teachings.

Maximus was part of the circle of philosophers advising the philosopher emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus (Julian). As none of his statues have survived, the archive shown could have been created based on the painting “Julian [wrongly named] the Apostate presiding at a conference of sectarians, by Edward Armitage, 1875”, where the figure of Maximus of Ephesus can be seen leaning against the statue of Athena behind Emperor Julian.

This portrayal reflects his role as a Neoplatonic philosopher and his involvement in philosophical discussions and debates of his time. The painting depicts Emperor Julian, who sought to revive the mistakenly called paganism at a time when Christianity was on the rise, but unfortunately, his efforts were unsuccessful.