Origen was born c. 185, probably in Alexandria, and died c. 254. Porphyry (c. 232/4 - c.305) and Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 275 – 339) both wrote about Origin, although they present different accounts of his early life. Eusebius said Origen became a student of Clement of Alexandria, succeeding him as the head of a catechetical school (where people were educated in Christianity). He also said Eusebius castrated himself early in his career. Porphyry said Origen attended Neoplatonist lectures delivered by Ammonius Saccas. St. Jerome translated some works of Origen into Latin. Origen wrote (in Greek) Miscellanies (Stromateis), On the Resurrection (Peri anastaseos), and On First Principles (De principiis), Hexapla, commentaries, homilies, and scholia.
See "The Philosophy of Ammonius Saccas," by H. Langerbeck. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 77, Part 1. (1957), pp. 67-74.
"Lactantius, Porphyry, and the Debate over Religious Toleration," by Elizabeth DePalma Digeser. The Journal of Roman Studies, Vol. 88. (1998), pp. 129-146.
"A Note on Origen's Self-Mutilation," by R. P. C. Hanson. Vigiliae Christianae, Vol. 20, No. 2. (Jun., 1966), pp. 81-82.
"Sulpicius Severus and Origenism," by G. K. Van Andel. Vigiliae Christianae, Vol. 34, No. 3. (Sep., 1980), pp. 278-287.
