FAVORINUS

flourished 2nd century Skeptical philosopher and rhetorician of the Roman Empire who was highly esteemed for his learning and eloquence. He was a congenital eunuch and is known to have lived in Rome, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus. He was the teacher of Herodes Atticus, Gellius, and Fronto and was a friend of Plutarch. While in Rome, he held high office under Emperor Hadrian but, later, falling into disfavour, was exiled to Chios until the end of Hadrian's reign, at which time he returned to Rome and recovered his status. Favorinus wrote philosophical discourses, declamations, a Miscellaneous History, and memoirs. His serene discourse On Exile was printed from a Vatican Greek papyrus in 1931. Only fragments remain of his other works.