On the Mysteries (De Mysteriis)

Summary of the book of Iamblichus.

Porphyry A 3rd-century Neoplatonist philosopher and student of Plotinus, known for his critical and analytical approach to religion., who among the Platonists is called "the philosopher" on account of his excellence, sent a long letter into Egypt to the priest Anebo An Egyptian priest to whom Porphyry addressed his doubts about the efficacy of religious rituals.. It was full of various and weighty questions regarding every part of philosophy, but especially concerning God, as well as angels, demons, and souls; regarding providence, fate, prophecies, magic original: magicen; here referring to theurgy or divine ritual., miracles, sacrifices, and vows. Iamblichus A student of Porphyry who defended the use of ritual and mystery against his teacher's intellectual skepticism., his student, replied to Porphyry’s questions. Indeed, he introduces the Egyptian priest Abamon The pseudonym Iamblichus adopted to write his response, posing as a superior Egyptian master. as the one responding to Porphyry on behalf of his pupil Anebo, to whom Porphyry had sent the letter.

Therefore, of this entire inquiry and truly divine response—as I was still too much occupied with Plotinus Ficino spent years translating the massive "Enneads" of Plotinus; he admits here that he worked on Iamblichus quickly while still focused on that larger project.—I have translated almost every point by its sense rather than word-for-word. Thus, it should not be considered strange if the speech seems fragmented in places, especially during the opening arguments of the dispute, where the loss of words is of less consequence. From this point forward, the flow of the words will appear more continuous. However, I was occasionally forced to insert some word for the sake of either continuity or clarity.

Furthermore, Pierleoni Piero Leoni (d. 1492), a famous physician to Lorenzo de' Medici and a scholar of occult secrets., a man most eager for all secrets, was also a cause for this swifter publication. But, what I especially admire is that he always seems to strive for that which he already possesses. For by a certain divinity of intellect, he attains the secrets of the Philosophers—both Greeks and Foreigners original: Barbarorum; referring to the non-Greek "wisdom of the East," such as that of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Persians.—which have not yet even been read.