Homer, Pindar, and the tragic poets often use the expression "divine man" for heroes, who in every case "were born of gods." The origin of the concept of the divine man in ancient Greek culture can be traced back to mythological stories of the sons of gods, but the first representatives of the concept of the divine man for whom sufficiently detailed evidence can be inferred are Epimenides, Pythagoras, Empedocles, and Numa.

The "divine man," the charismatic leader or reformer, operates in the political, spiritual, social, or other sphere of life. His supernatural abilities are sometimes clear to all people, but more often they are recognized only by his devoted followers. However, when he is the Teacher of a spiritual way of life, the qualities of the charismatic man are understood even more in terms of his divine nature.

One such "divine man" was Apollonius of Tyana. He followed the path of deification, frequented wise men, and conversed with gods. He had the ability to heal, practice physiognomy, divination, and telepathy. He could become invisible whenever he wanted and transport himself instantaneously. Most importantly, he was an advisor to emperors, an inaugurator of an era of prosperity for the entire Roman Empire, and a great Teacher of his time.