CHRYSANTHIUS

chrysanthius, a greek philosopher of the 4th century a.d., of the school of iamblichus. he was one of the favourite pupils of aedesius, and devoted himself mainly to the mystical side of neoplatonism (q.v.). the emperor julian (q.v.) went to him by the advice of aedesius, and subsequently invited him to come to court, and assist in the projected resuscitation of hellenism. but chrysanthius declined on the strength of unfavourable omens, as he said, but probably because he realized that the scheme was unlikely to bear fruit. for the same reason he abstained from drastic religious reforms in his capacity as high-priest of lydia. as a result of his moderation, he remained high-priest till his death, venerated alike by christians and pagans. his wife melite, who was associated with him in the priestly office, was a kinswoman of eunapius the biographer. chryselephantine (gr. [greek: chrysos], gold, and [greek: elephas], ivory), the architectural term given to statues which were built up on a wooden core, with ivory representing the flesh and gold the drapery. the two most celebrated examples are those by pheidias of the statue of athena in the parthenon and of zeus in the temple at olympia.