Jean-Marc Narbonne on Plotinus in Dialogue with the Gnostics

Twenty-four Dialogues of Plato

On Paradoxical Machines

In 'On Paradoxical Machines,' Anthemius of Tralles offers a rare synthesis of high Euclidean theory and the practical grit of Byzantine engineering. As one of the master architects of Constantinople, Anthemius argues that the most profound challenges of the physical world—from the construction of bu

The Enneads of Plotinus

The 'Plotini Enneades' is the foundational pillar of Neoplatonism, presented here in a historic 1460 copy transcribed by the renowned scribe John Skutariotes. Plotinus offers a transformative perspective on reality, arguing that the material world is but a shadow of the 'Intelligible Realm' and that

Plotinus, Enneads I-VI; Porphyry, Vita Plotini

This collection, organized by Porphyry, serves as a direct guide for anyone seeking to understand the soul's origin and ultimate return to the One. Plotinus treats philosophy not as an academic exercise, but as a practical path toward enlightenment. He argues that the physical world is merely a shad

Tetrabiblos

The Tetrabiblos is not merely a book of horoscopes; it is a monumental attempt by the father of geography and astronomy to rationalize celestial influence through the lens of Aristotelian natural philosophy. Ptolemy argues that the stars exert a physical 'temperament' upon the world, governing every

The Complete Works of Plato Translated by Marsilio Ficino

This collection serves as a portal to the mind of Plato as seen through the eyes of one of the 15th century's most influential thinkers. Ficino treats philosophy not as a sterile academic exercise but as a medicine for the soul. He constructs an argument for the harmony between pagan wisdom and Chri

Eight Books on Astrology

The 'Mathesis' of Firmicus Maternus is more than a manual; it is an unflinching attempt to synthesize the entire astrological tradition of the ancient world into a singular, divine science. Writing during the reign of Constantine, Maternus offers a unique perspective as a former public advocate who

The Iliad and the Odyssey

This document offers a startlingly original perspective on Homer’s foundational works by weaving technical bibliographical analysis into the social fabric of 1990 Zurich. While the text provides meticulous collation notes that deconstruct the physical signatures of the Greek-Latin edition, it simult

The Chaldean Oracles

This text offers a rare, syncretic exploration of Zoroastrian oracles interpreted through the lens of Neoplatonic and Christian thought. It presents a universe structured in three distinct parts—the eternal, the immortal but generated, and the decaying—and positions the human soul as a mediator 'glu

Enneads (1580 Greek-Latin, Ficino trans.)

The Roman History

This history is the final major account of the Roman Empire written by a contemporary witness. Ammianus writes with the precision of a soldier and the cynicism of a man who survived multiple political purges. He makes bold claims about the moral decay of the Roman aristocracy and the destructive pow

Mysterium Magnum

Mysterium Magnum serves as a map for the soul seeking to understand why God created a world filled with both beauty and suffering. Böhme claims that the visible universe is a magical birth originating from divine desire. He argues that the duality of love and anger is the foundation of all existence

The Collected Works of Sextus Empiricus

This collection serves as the definitive record of ancient Pyrrhonism, a philosophy designed to cure the mental distress caused by rigid intellectual belief. Sextus Empiricus demonstrates that every claim to knowledge can be countered by an equally valid opposing argument. By showing that human perc

The Hebrew Bible

The 'Biblia Hebraica' edited by Michaelis is far more than a simple reprint of the Hebrew Bible; it is a rigorous scholarly defense of the necessity of biblical literacy in its original tongue. By integrating philological criticism with a deep spiritual parænesis, Michaelis argues that ignorance of

Telescope of Zoroaster, or the key to the great divinatory cabala of the magi

The Telescope of Zoroaster is an intellectually rigorous manual of high occultism that bridges the gap between sacred geometry and personal fate. Attributed to the enigmatic Andrea de Nerciat, the text dismisses trivial fortune-telling in favor of a profound 'Cabalistic Rudiment' that views the univ

Complete Plato (Thomas Taylor trans.)

Thomas Taylor’s 'Complete Plato' is a monumental achievement that offers more than a mere translation; it provides the 'key' to the Platonic system through the profound insights of ancient Neoplatonic commentators. Taylor argues that philosophy is a divine discipline designed to lead the soul away f

Biblia Sacra Vulgatae: Clementine Vulgate Latin Bible

This 1804 Venice edition of the Biblia Sacra Vulgatae stands as a monument to ecclesiastical history and structural precision. Authorized by the successive mandates of Popes Sixtus V and Clement VIII, this version represents the definitive Sixtine-Clementine standard that shaped Catholic liturgy for

Plotini Opera Omnia cum Ficini commentariis

Plotini Opera Omnia represents the pinnacle of Neoplatonic thought, blending the original 3rd-century mystical insights of Plotinus with the intellectual fire of the Renaissance philosopher Marsilio Ficino. This text serves as a rigorous bridge between the classical logic of Plato and the burgeoning

Zend-Avesta

James Darmesteter provides a rigorous translation of the Yasts and Sîrôzahs, drawing on Pahlavi and Persian traditions to decode the Zoroastrian spiritual world. The text presents a universe defined by a binary struggle between Ahura Mazda and the forces of evil. It maps a sacred geography where mou

Timaeus (Greek text with commentary)

R.D. Archer-Hind’s edition of the Timaeus offers a radical reinterpretation of Plato’s later philosophy, arguing that this dialogue represents the culmination of Platonic metaphysics where the dualism of mind and matter is finally resolved. By identifying Being with a Universal Mind, the text presen

Phaedo

The Phaedo captures the final conversation of a man facing his own execution with absolute calm. Socrates argues that the philosopher spends their entire life preparing for death because the body acts as a prison for the truth. He maintains that true knowledge belongs only to the soul, which must ev

Works of Plato (Republic, Timaeus, Critias)

Plato, the architect of Western philosophy, invites readers into a series of intellectual battles that remain startlingly modern. In these pages, he dismantles the cynical view that 'might makes right' and proposes a revolutionary vision of an ideal state where gender is no barrier to leadership and

The Homeric Hymns (Allen & Sikes Critical Edition)

This landmark 1904 critical edition by Allen and Sikes offers a rigorous reconstruction of the Homeric Hymns, presenting them as vibrant 'rhapsodic preludes' that once set the stage for the performance of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Beyond mere translation, the editors make the bold claim that the te

Homer's Iliad (Books I-XII)

This volume presents a critical foundation for the first half of the Trojan War. It cuts through centuries of scholarly debate to place the reader directly in the camp of the disgruntled Achilles. The text forces a confrontation with the brutal reality of leadership, where a king's vanity often dict

Works (Laws, Definitions)

The Anthology (Anthologiarum Libri)

Old Testament in Syriac (Peshitta)

The Peshitta serves as a vital anchor for understanding how early Aramaic-speaking communities received and interpreted the sacred text. Beyond the foundational narratives of Genesis and the Exodus, it integrates mystical and liturgical commentaries that link the physical body to spiritual salvation

Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica

This volume captures the transition of early Greek epic from the romantic, heroic tales of Ionia to the blunt, moralistic voice of the Boeotian school. It addresses the fundamental tension between divine will and human struggle. Readers will encounter the origins of the cosmos, the inescapable natur

The Enneads of Plotinus Vol. I

The Enneads of Plotinus, translated with poetic intensity by Stephen McKenna, stands as the foundation of Neoplatonism and a bridge between classical Greek logic and Western mysticism. Plotinus offers a bold metaphysical hierarchy—The One, the Intellectual-Principle, and the Soul—arguing that our tr

Pistis Sophia: A Gnostic Gospel

G.R.S. Mead’s translation of the Pistis Sophia offers a profound window into Gnosticism, presenting a cosmic drama of fall and redemption that centers on the suffering and thirteen repentances of Sophia. Mead argues that these texts are not mere 'libertine' heresies, but sophisticated philosophical

Ginza Rabba: Der Schatz der Mandäer

The Ginza Rabba, or 'Great Treasure,' offers a rare, unfiltered window into a dualistic universe where the human soul is a 'garment of radiance' trapped in a material world of 'deficiency.' Translated by Mark Lidzbarski, this foundational text challenges traditional narratives by presenting John the

Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days, Testimonia

This edition serves as the essential modern replacement for the century-old Evelyn-White translation, bringing contemporary scholarship to the ancient foundations of Greek myth and morality. Most presents the bold claim that Hesiod’s authority rests not on human apprenticeship, but on a direct, divi