The Nicene Age · AD 313–400 · External witness

Olympius

fl. AD 391/392 (death unrecorded) · Pagan philosopher · Leader of the defence of the Serapeum · Alexandria

External witness

Who Olympius was

The philosopher who organised the pagan defence of the Serapeum of Alexandria when the imperial order came to demolish it in 391 or 392. He held the temple as a fortress, kept the crowd inside it in the old rites, and — on Rufinus’ account — slipped away by night when he heard a voice singing hallelujah inside the shrine. He is a named pagan actor at the centre of a church event, which the archive has very few of.

Verified single attestation

Named once, by a source inside the horizon, as the addressee or named party of a surviving work; no other ancient source names him.

Also listed in non-christian witnesses.

Common questions

When was Olympius active?

Olympius is dated fl. AD 391/392 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Olympius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).

Which early sources mention Olympius?

Olympius is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Rufinus of Aquileia. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Olympius from?

The archive associates Olympius with Alexandria.

Who were Olympius’ contemporaries?

The archive links Olympius to 1 other figure, including Rufinus of Aquileia. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.