48 extant (originally more, including lost lives like Epaminondas and Scipio).
23 pairs (e.g., Demosthenes/Cicero, Theseus/Romulus) and 4 single lives (e.g., Artaxerxes, Galba). 18 formal comparisons ( synkrisis ) follow the pairs. Historical Influence Plutarch PARALLEL LIVES OF NOBLE GRECIANS AND R...
Plutarch explicitly states he is writing biography, not history . He prioritizes "the marks and indications of the souls of men" over "weighty matters and great battles," believing that a small gesture or a jest often reveals more about a person's character than a massive victory. 48 extant (originally more, including lost lives like