Introductory Astronomical Writings of the Ancients

A large, simple square-style initial letter Pi (Π) at the beginning of the main text block.Proclus the Lycian, a student of Syrianus, and also a hearer of Plutarch of Nestorius the Philosopher, was himself a Platonic philosopher. He presided over the philosophical school in Athens, and Marinus the Neapolitan is named as his student and successor. He wrote very many works, both philosophical and grammatical: a commentary on the entirety of Homer; a commentary on the Works and Days of Hesiod; four books on Chrestomathia; two on education; four books on Plato's Republic; on the theology of Orpheus; a concordance of Orpheus, Pythagoras, and Plato; ten books on the Oracles; on the gods in Homer; [and] eighteen arguments against the Christians. This is Proclus, who, after Porphyry, was the second to move his foul and insulting tongue against the Christians. Against him, John, surnamed Philoponus, wrote a most admirable reply to his eighteen arguments, demonstrating that he was ignorant and foolish even in those Hellenic matters of which he was so proud. Proclus wrote a Mother-goddess book, which, if anyone should take into their hands, they will see how he poured forth from his own divine possession his entire theology concerning the god, so that it no longer disturbs the hearing with its absurd lamentations.