Xenarchus of Seleucia

{{short description|1st century BC Greek Peripatetic philosopher and grammarian}}

{{Redirect|Xenarchus|the genus of moth|Xenarchus (moth)}}

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Xenarchus ({{langx|el|Ξέναρχος}}; 1st century BC) of Seleucia in Cilicia, was a Greek Peripatetic philosopher and grammarian. Xenarchus left home early, and devoted himself to the profession of teaching, first at Alexandria, afterwards at Athens, and last at Rome, where he enjoyed the friendship of Arius, and afterwards of Augustus; and he was still living, in old age and honour, when Strabo wrote.Strabo, 14.5.4. Xenarchus disagreed with Aristotle on many issues. He denied the existence of the aether, composing a treatise entitled Against the Fifth Element.Giovanni Reale, 1990, A History of Ancient Philosophy: The Schools of the Imperial Age, page 19. SUNY Press He is also mentioned by Simplicius,Simplicius, de Caelo, 1. by Julian the Apostate,Julian, Orations, V. 162 (On the Mother of the Gods.) and by Alexander of Aphrodisias.Alexander Aphrodisiensis, de Anim.