Tre morti esemplari alla fine del mondo antico: Plotino, Giuliano, Agostino

The present article focuses on three exemplary deaths in Late Antiquity: Plotinus (see Porphyry, Vita Plotini, 2);; the Emperor Julian (see Ammianus Marcelli-ˇ nus, XXV, 3, 22-ˇ23);; Augustine (see Possidius, Vita Augustini, 28 and 31). It is argued that the three reports point to different philosophical and cultural backgrounds. Ploti-ˇ nus’ and Julian’s deaths mirror Socrates’ example recorded in Plato’s Phaedo. Their analogies notwithstanding, some interesting differences emerge. Plotinus is a sage who has attained a complete knowledge of reality through the conjunction of his embodied mind to his higher and purely intellectual self. Julian dies as philosopher-ˇking who is fully aware that his earthly performance has commended his soul to the heavenly sphe-ˇ re of the stars. Augustine dies as a Christian Saint who is tragically aware of his infir-ˇ mity vis-ˇà-ˇvis God.