APOLLO'NIUS, OF TYANA, in Cappadocia, who lived in the time of Christ, was a zealous follower of the doctrines of Pythagoras. He soon collected a considerable num ber of disciples, traveled through a great part of Asia Minor, and endeavored to find his way to India, in order to become acquainted with the doctrine of the Brahmins. On this journey he stayed for a time in Babylon, was introduced to the Magi, and at last reached the court of king Phraortes, in India, who recommended him to Jarchas, the principal Brahmin. When A. returned from this pilgrimage, his fame as a wise man was greatly increased; the people regarded him as a worker of miracles and a divine being, and princes were glad to entertain him at their courts. He himself seems to have claimed insight into futurity, rather than the power of working miracles. From Rome lie was expelled on a charge of having raised a young woman from the dead. After
extensive travels in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Ethiopia, he was accused of having taken part in an insurrection against Domitian; but appeared before the tribunal, and was acquitted. Ultimately, he appears to have settled in Ephesus, where lie opened a Pythagorean school, and continued his teaching until he died, nearly 100 years old. Ilis history was written about 100 years after his death by Philostratus (q.v.). It contains a mass of absurdities and fables, through which an outline of historical facts and the real character of the man are sufficiently discernible. IIierocles, a heathen statesman and opponent of Christianity, wrote, in the 3d c., a work on the life and doctrines of A., with a view to prove their superiority to the doctrine of Christ. In modern times, the English freethinker Blount, and Voltaire in France, have renewed the attempt.