Aelius Aristides was a Greek orator and author of the Roman imperial period, living from about 117 to 181 CE. He is considered a leading figure of the Second Sophistic, a cultural movement focused on reviving classical Greek language and learning. Born into a wealthy family in Mysia, he received an elite education in rhetoric.
His life was famously dominated by chronic illness, which he documented in great detail in his autobiographical Sacred Tales. These writings describe his long sickness, dreams, and the treatments he received from the god Asclepius at healing sanctuaries. Despite his poor health, Aristides maintained an active career as a practicing orator. His surviving works include 55 orations, ranging from ceremonial display speeches to political appeals. One of his most notable achievements was successfully persuading Emperor Marcus Aurelius to fund the reconstruction of Smyrna after a devastating earthquake in 178 CE. Other important works include a panegyric To Rome, praising the empire, and the Panathenaic Oration, a lengthy tribute to Athens that imitates classical Athenian style.
According to modern scholars, Aristides holds a dual significance. First, his formal orations are masterful examples of the period's rhetorical art and its deep engagement with the classical past. Second, his Sacred Tales provide an unparalleled personal account of illness, religious healing, and dream interpretation in the ancient world, offering unique insights into ancient medicine and spirituality. His works were highly valued in later centuries as models of pure Attic Greek prose.