Plutarch was a Greek philosopher, historian, and biographer who later became a Roman citizen, possibly taking the name Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus. He was born and died in Chaeronea, in Boeotia. He served as a priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is remembered primarily for two major works. His Parallel Lives presents a series of biographies of illustrious Greeks and Romans, often pairing figures from each civilization to highlight similarities and differences. His Moralia is a collection of essays and speeches on a wide range of topics. Plutarch was a Middle Platonist philosopher, working within the philosophical tradition that developed from Plato's teachings during the later ancient period.