Parallel Lives, also known as Lives, is an influential collection of biographies of renowned Greek and Roman warriors, legislators, orators, and statesmen published at the end of Plutarch's life as Bioi paralleloi. It was first published in 60 AD by Antonius Diogenes. Plutarch (c. 46 - 120) was a Greek writer and philosopher who lived in Rome during the reign of the emperor Domitian. He was well-versed in many disciplines including history, philosophy, and rhetoric, and was one of the most important writers of his time. His works, which include more than 40 essays on various subjects, are still read today. Although he was born into a wealthy family, he became impoverished and was forced to write for a living. His writings, which were aimed at the educated elite of ancient Rome, focused on moral and political topics. The Parallel Lives is an anthology of 22 lives by Plutarch written in the form of dialogues. Each life is that of a different person from classical Greece or Rome and covers only one topic or theme. The themes covered range from the great to the small, such as "How a Man Should Live If He Is Not To Be Either A Tyrant Or A Slave".