The life of Plotinus is one of the first texts from late Antiquity period that traditionally start with the (crisis of the 3rd century), from 235. Composed in 301, it is the preface to the imagination, the porphyrienne of the treaties of Plotinus edition. It is therefore both a biography of Plotinus and an introduction to the work that follows. The text presents a documentary and literary interest. As a document, it provides capital accounts of the teaching of philosophy in the 3rd century. Without this text, we would not know how to work the school of Plotinus. We understand that it was above all a circle involving both devout followers and hearers of passage. The course was above all with questions and answers from a text which Plotinus was exegesis. The importance of exegesis is a characteristic of late Antiquity: the course of philosophy is more to address such or such matter, but above all to comment on the founding texts (Plato especially, secondarily Aristotle). The text also reflects expectations of a new era. Plotinus is an ascetic who eats little and whose activity is entirely turned towards the union with the divine principle. Porphyry painted a philosopher at new features: miracle worker, Prophet, divine man, Apollo, at the end of the text, confirms the exceptional nature. We feel constantly flush the interest for the concept of revelation, which was not unique to Christians, and which will characterize any late Neoplatonism. Finally, the life of Plotinus is a work of a new literary genre: the life of a master written by his disciple.

Text in Ancient Greek with French translation facing; commentary in French.