Is plutarch a reliable source?

Answer 1

Plutarch wrote between 80 and 120 AD so it is hard to assess the accuracy of his accounts because he was writing about the past. He was an essayist which means he wrote to emulate virtues and avid vices. He used extensive research within his writings and made nothing up which means he is only considered as reliable as his source material. Therefore Plutarch can only be seen as a secondary source. Hope that helped :)