1500 years separate the texts written in captivity by the ancient author Boethius and the Turkish writer Ahmet Altan. The extreme conditions of their writing form the basis for Nils Röller\'s comparison: how do they formulate texts, how do they thematize and shape time? In Boethius\' \'Trostschrift\', poems are juxtaposed with speculation about eternity as a form of experiencing time. In his texts written in captivity, Altan describes his struggle against time. Both authors create figurations of philosophy. Boethius develops \'Philosophia\', which represents philosophical doctrine until the 16th century. In Altan\'s \'Hayat means life\', a dancing woman stands for an alternative idea of philosophical activity.