Greek historian, philosopher and biographer, born in Chaeronia in Boeotia (AD 45-120). Plutarch studied in Athens, travelled to Asia and Alexandria, taught in Rome, and for the last thirty years of his life served as a priest at the oracular shrine of Apollo at Delphi. Plutarch was also an influential political figure and a prolific writer: 227 works are attributed to him, of which 78 miscellaneous texts and 50 biographies survive. He wrote rhetorical works, especially speeches of display, treatises on matters of moral philosophy, philosophical dialogues and works on antiquarian topics, but is of course best known for his Parallel Lives, paired biographies of Illustrious Greeks and Romans. His work was popular both with general readers and as educational material in Byzantium and during the Renaissance.