Philostratus’s biography of Apollonius was written to show Apollonius as a “divine man” and to prove that to those critical of him. Apollonius lived a bit after Jesus Christ when magic was still seen as part of society and even religion, yet people were still suspicious of those who practiced in magic believing them to be using it for evil purposes. Philostratus’s biography was written to try and show Apollonius in a new light, the light of the “divine man”, and prove to the critics that he only practiced good magic.

Philostratus’s goal was to refute the the charges against Apollonius of him practicing evil magic by showing his divine aspirations in both his teachings and his miracles (White, 59). He began by making connections between Apollonius and Pythagoras, who is considered a divine man in Greek literature. Philostratus’s goal was to prove Apollonius was even more divine and wise than that of Pythagoras. He says Apollonius’s powers were not wizardly and “black magic” but were in fact a by product of his philosophic wisdom, much like that of Pythagoras, Plato, and Socrates. He was a mortal above all others.

Many stories of divine men discuss their birth as characteristics of divinity. Apollonius was no different, he is said to have had a birth effected by the God, Proteus. It was told that Proteus, an Egyptian demon, came to Apollonius’s mother and foretold that her son would be no ordinary man. Even his birth was exceptional as he was born in a meadow with singing swans and a lightning bolt that came to the earth at the exact moment he was born, proving he was to be no ordinary man.

The authors of these stories of “divine men” also included writings of precious childhoods and Apollonius was no different. He traveled to India, where he learned of and cultivated his mystical sights. Then took his teachings and miracles to Rome, before, according to Philostratus, he disappeared to escape the tyrannical Domitian. He as a youth was much different than those of his generation as he was more interested in learning and teachings.

Apollonius used words and deeds to help those around him in ways never to be properly described. Apollonius, through the stories of Philostratus, has been described as a divine man who had connections with the gods and practiced magic that was only good and proper. That is what makes him worthy of the title divine man