Through the life of Apollonius of Tyana, Mead, in this 1901 work, brings in to focus a previously unknown time in history. Very little was known about the lives and motivations of those living in the first century A.D. Nor was there much information about how Christianity developed immediately after the life of Jesus.

Apollonius was a Pythagorean who wrote many books on philosophy and science, and being associated with cults like the Pythagoreans, he necessarily came in contact with the religious devotees of his time. Students of history and religion will find the life of Apollonius an illuminating tale from a nearly forgotten period of history.


British scholar and philosopher GEORGE ROBERT STOW MEAD (1863-1933) was educated at Cambridge University. He served as editor of The Theosophical Society's Theosophical Review, and later formed The Quest Society and edited its journal, The Quest Review. He is also the author of Notes on Nirvana (1893) and an 1896 translation of The Upanishads.