Mysteries of the Rock-Born God: The Roman Cult of Mithras

Republic, Laws, and Timaeus

In this profound synthesis of 'Republic,' 'Laws,' and 'Timaeus,' Plato bridges the gap between the earthly and the divine. He argues that virtue is not merely a behavior, but a liberation of the soul achieved through alignment with the celestial sphere and the internalizing of 'common conceptions.'

Twenty-four Dialogues of Plato

Pal.gr.173

Pal.gr.173 functions as a practical manual for the soul. It moves beyond abstract theory to confront the actual stakes of living well in an unjust world. You will encounter a Socratic method that values clear thinking over popularity and moral integrity over political safety. The text forces a confr

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

Urb.gr.31

Plato presents a brutal inquiry into the nature of justice and the health of the human soul. He argues that justice is not a social compromise but a requirement for inner harmony. You will discover why political leadership requires a rare, philosophical rigor that society almost always rejects. The

Vat.gr.126

This text provides a cold, clinical autopsy of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides rejects supernatural explanations to focus exclusively on political mechanics and military strategy. He argues that the growth of Athenian power made conflict with Sparta a mathematical certainty. By studying his accoun

Plato . Platon . Platonis Dialogi

This collection captures the urgent, living spirit of Socratic inquiry at its most potent. Plato argues that we must abandon the distractions of the physical realm to grasp eternal truths. He warns that writing creates a dangerous illusion of wisdom by substituting memorized facts for internal under

Diversorum scriptorum Opera varia . Diaphoron syngrapheon Erga diaphora . Titulum corrige Platonis Opera omnia cum prolegomenis

Plato’s work functions as a complete framework for human conduct and cosmic understanding. He moves beyond simple dialogue to categorize the structure of reality, linking music, numbers, and political virtue to the divine. Each page challenges the reader to distinguish between fleeting sensory opini

Cologny, Fondation Martin Bodmer, Cod. Bodmer 136

In this legendary account of Socrates’ final day, Plato (narrated through Phaedo) investigates the profound relationship between the soul, the divine, and the morality of existence. The text presents a startlingly calm Socrates who argues that humans are the 'possessions of the gods,' framing life a

Greek philosophical miscellany (Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.4.16)

This manuscript acts as a master key to Aristotelian thought, blending ethics, rhetoric, and political theory into a single argument about the human condition. It insists that happiness is not a feeling but an active practice of virtue that requires a lifetime to achieve. The text does not just theo

Plato De legibus . Platonos Nomoi . Ac praeterea alii eiusdem [Platonis] Dialogi tum gnesioi, tum nothoi, Definitiones, et epistolae

This work represents the peak of Plato's political thought, moving beyond abstract theories of justice to the mechanics of statecraft. He argues that laws are empty without the internal habits of virtue that only education can provide. Plato forces the reader to confront the reality that excess and

Homer and Quintus of Smyrna (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 81)

This manuscript acts as a bridge between the ancient Greek world and the medieval intellectual tradition. It presents the Iliad and the Odyssey with marginal notes that challenge the reader to look beyond the battlefield. You will see how early scholars interpreted the tension between mortal pride a

Plato, Cratylus and Secular Florilegium

This work presents an unflinching look at the architecture of a well-lived life. It asserts that true virtue is not an action but a deliberate choice to align the soul with divine reason. By dismantling the common obsession with physical gratification, the text demands that we prioritize the health

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

Homer (Cambridge, Christ's College, MS Rouse 358)

This volume houses the foundational texts of Western literature, tracing the fury of Achilles at Troy and the desperate wandering of Odysseus. It presents a world where divine whims shatter mortal lives and where individual glory often demands an unbearable price. Homer avoids simple morality, choos

The Complete Works of Plato

This monumental edition of Plato’s *Opera Omnia* is more than a translation; it is a sacred bridge between Greek antiquity and Renaissance humanism, curated by Marsilio Ficino to harmonize philosophy with divine religion. Within these pages, readers will find the 'divine' Plato—a thinker who argues

Orphic and Homeric Hymns

This remarkable collection offers an intimate look at the intersection of ancient Greek theology, ritual practice, and poetic tradition. By weaving together the Orphic perspective on cosmogony with the Homeric celebration of divine exploits, the text presents a world where every natural force—from t

Dionysiaca

The Complete Works of the Divine Plato

This 1590 edition of Plato’s 'Complete Works' serves as a spiritual and intellectual map of the human condition, viewed through the transformative Neoplatonic lens of Marsilio Ficino. Synthesizing classical dialectic with religious piety, the text argues that the ultimate end of man is to achieve a

Dionysiaca (Cunaeus Edition)

Plato Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus

Plato documents the final days of his teacher, Socrates, as he confronts a city that wants him dead. The text moves from the courtroom to the prison cell, eventually shifting into deep metaphysical inquiry. It argues that philosophy is nothing less than the practice of dying. By rejecting passive wr

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

Introduction to Plato

Thomas Taylor’s 'Introduction to Plato' is a profound reclamation of ancient Neoplatonic wisdom, asserting that Plato’s work is a systematic, scientific ladder to the divine rather than mere literary dialogue. Taylor boldly positions the 'One' as a superessential principle that transcends even the C

Orphica

Gottfried Hermann does not offer a polished myth but a raw, confrontational look at how we inherit the ancient past. He forces the reader to confront the reality that many famous works were misattributed, patched together, or distorted by centuries of scribal error. The text exposes the vanity of th

Dionysiaca (Graefe Critical Edition)

Nonnus of Panopolis’s 'Dionysiaca' is a maximalist, baroque reimagining of Greek mythology that stands as the longest surviving poem from antiquity. Written in the 5th century AD, it weaves together cosmic upheaval, erotic obsession, and the transformative power of divinity through the lens of 'meta

The Works of Apuleius

Apuleius remains one of the most enigmatic voices of the Roman Empire, serving as a vital bridge between Platonic philosophy and the ancient mystery cults. This collection brings together his most influential works, showcasing his unique perspective as a 'half-and-half Numidian' intellectual who nav

Works of Plato

Plato’s 'The Laws' represents a monumental shift in the philosopher's journey, moving from the idealism of his youth toward a rigorous, practical exploration of legislation and social order. Translated by George Burges in 1880, this edition provides a meticulous 'literal version' that preserves the

The Dialogues of Plato (Jowett Translation)

This monumental work brings together the brilliance of Plato and the rigorous scholarship of B. Jowett, the Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford. By presenting Plato’s theories alongside comprehensive analyses and introductions, Jowett provides a bridge between the Classical Athenian Academy and mode

On the God of Socrates

In 'De Deo Socratis,' Apuleius provides a daring ontological blueprint of the cosmos, arguing that the vast space between the perfect gods and 'complaining' humanity is teeming with life. Writing with the flair of a master rhetorician, he introduces the concept of daemons as a 'middle nature'—beings

Orphica (Abel Edition, with Proclus Hymns & Hymn to Isis)

Eugen Abel reconstructs the Orphic tradition by stripping away centuries of editorial clutter. He aligns fragmented myths and hymns into a logical sequence, transforming obscure lore into a cohesive theological system. The text argues that music, ritual, and language possess the power to move mounta

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

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2, Vol. 6 (Jerome: Letters)

These letters provide a raw, unfiltered look at one of history’s most influential and difficult thinkers. Jerome does not just write; he fights against heresy, defends his biblical translations, and pushes his followers toward total asceticism. Readers will discover a man obsessed with the purity of

The Republic

Most people act justly only because they fear the consequences of getting caught. Plato guts this assumption by creating a theoretical city where justice is defined not by laws, but by the internal harmony of the individual soul. He argues that political stability requires rulers who hate power and

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

Dionysiaca

The Dionysiaca is a massive, hallucinatory epic that chronicles the god Dionysus from his miraculous birth to his violent campaign against the Indian king Deriades. Beyond the mythological narrative, this text serves as a battleground for 19th-century scholars like Hermann Köchly, who treated the wo

Plato: Laches, Protagoras, Meno, Euthydemus

Plato’s dialogues remain the standard for critical thinking because they force the reader to defend their own assumptions. This collection captures Socrates at his most agile, moving from the definition of courage to the nature of knowledge itself. You will see him challenge the Sophists, whose reli

Works (Laws, Definitions)

Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, and Phaedrus

This collection captures the final days of history's most famous provocateur. Socrates turns his own trial into a masterclass on how to live and die with integrity. He dismantles the hollow arguments of his accusers and shows that true wisdom starts with the admission of ignorance. The text forces y

Apuleius: Apology and Florida

Apuleius: Apology and Florida offers a rare, firsthand glimpse into the legal and social tensions of the second-century Roman Empire. Facing a capital charge of sorcery, Apuleius argues that his scientific interest in anatomy and natural history is a mark of philosophical devotion rather than crimin

Orphic Fragments

Otto Kern reconstructs the fragmented legacy of Orpheus to reveal the evolution of Greek religious thought. The text examines the historical validity of Orpheus while documenting his influence on figures like Pythagoras and Plato. It presents a radical theology where the creator Phanes is swallowed

Plato: Statesman and Philebus

Plato does not merely lecture; he forces his readers to think alongside his characters. In these texts, he argues that the best kind of power is not found in static codes but in the flexible, living intelligence of the expert. He dismantles the idea that pleasure or intellect alone can anchor a huma