Bodies of Knowledge in Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius

Abstract Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius uses the transmigration soul to tie present past through corporal metaphors cultural preservation. These are laced throughout Apollonius’ visits Indian Brahmans and Ethiopian naked sages (Gymnoi), two wisdom groups who respectively celebrate deny embodied knowledge that reincarnation allows. This somatic line thinking culminates in a debate over Gymnoi’s eponymous nudity, which critiques on counts: it wrongly suggests Gymnoi can divest themselves their creates false dichotomy between clothes body, ornament essence.