 Scholars have remarked that Simplicius’ eagerness to harmonise Plato and Aristotle should be seen in the context of the Neoplatonist’s anti-Christian attitude and especially his polemics against the Christian Platonist John Philoponus (Hoffmann 2014: 286). After Christianity became the official state religion (in 380 CE), it was ever more difficult for pagan philosophers to teach and practice their cultic rituals. This development culminated in the famous edict of 529, commonly referred to as the closing of the Platonic Academy (see  §1).  One of the main criticisms, made as early as the first Christian apologist Tertullian, was that Greek philosophers and their schools would constantly contradict each other, so that it was impossible to speak of a unified intellectual tradition or heritage. In this respect, John Philoponus was particularly dangerous in criticising the Hellenic tradition from within, and with an excellent knowledge of all of the relevant texts. If all of this weren’t bad enough, the Christian Platonist from Alexandria openly countered efforts toward harmonisation. Being a fervent champion of the creation of the world in time (according to the Christian creed), Philoponus argues that one of the most common arguments of the harmonisers—that Aristotle would only criticise the apparent meaning of Plato’s words—is not valid. He even refers to it as a fiction (muthos), adding that if it were true, Aristotle would have said so explicitly: