Abstract

The article outlines the research in the area that has just started to take shape nowadays, namely the study of visual images of ancient philosophers, and identifies the ways in which we can clarify the role played by images of ancient philosophers, including the ones produced during their lifetime and the later replicas. I highlight the problem of how the image of particular philosopher might influence reception of his thought and rise the following: could the portraits of a philosopher act like an obstacle for pondering the originality of his ideas? Is there a historical correlation between evolution of a philosopher’s visual image and the changes in perception of his thought? What were the stages of mythologizing certain philosopher? I conclude that portraits of philosophers possess intrinsic language and additional resource for comprehending philosophy of ancient thinkers. Implicit substitution of tridimensional sculptural image for flat photographic one is another important topic of the present article. Two basic interpretations of portraits are distinguished: the first one takes place at the moment of the portrait’s creating, the second – in the process of taking a photograph of the said portrait thus transmitting it into flat image. Eliminating some implicit assumptions allows us to improve methodological base for research on the philosopher’s images. I conclude that portraits of the philosophers shall not be perceived as mere illustration for verbal descriptions, but as important and valuable sources on their own right.