Brian Alt on Sacred Materials, Divine Names, and Subtle Physiology in Iamblichean Theurgy

Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

Problemata (Problems)

In this extraordinary synthesis of Neoplatonic philosophy and ancient medical praxis, Iamblichus presents the human body as a microcosm governed by the same harmonic principles as the stars. Moving beyond simple biography, the text offers a 'regimen according to reason,' tackling everything from the

Contra Celsum (1481 editio princeps)

This editio princeps reveals more than a theological argument. It captures the tension between Humanist scholarship and the existential dread caused by the Ottoman advance into Italy. Origen argues that Christianity survives not through the ornate rhetoric of philosophers, but through the lived powe

On the Mysteries

In this masterwork of Neoplatonic synthesis, Marsilio Ficino navigates the treacherous waters between Epicurean indulgence and Stoic austerity. He argues that the human soul is not merely a passenger in the body, but an indivisible spark capable of transforming physical sensation into intellectual '

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians

This work defends traditional religious practice against the skepticism of philosophers like Porphyry. Iamblichus asserts that the gods are not swayed by human emotions, but rather that rituals align the human soul with a pre-existing divine order. He defines the universe as a singular, living organ

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians

Edited and translated by the Renaissance visionary Marsilio Ficino, 'Mysteries of Egypt' brings together the most influential voices of late antiquity—Iamblichus, Porphyry, and Proclus—alongside the mystical revelations of Hermes Trismegistus. The text argues that divine knowledge is not a product o

The Divine Pymander, Asclepius, and On the Mysteries

This monumental synthesis of Hermetic and Neoplatonic thought offers a radical roadmap for the soul’s ascent from the sensory 'multitude' to the intellectual 'One.' By weaving together the revelations of Hermes Trismegistus with the rigorous defenses of Iamblichus and the metaphysical depth of Procl

Pymander. Asclepius. On the Mysteries of the Egyptians. On Plato's Alcibiades, on the Soul and the Daemon. On Sacrifice.

This seminal volume brings together the core texts of the Hermetic and Neoplatonic traditions, asserting a unified lineage of 'ancient theology' (Prisca Theologia) that flows from Hermes Trismegistus to Plato. Readers will encounter bold claims about the human condition: that we are 'twofold' beings

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians - Pimander - Asclepius

This volume serves as a primary manual for understanding the mechanics of theurgy and the nature of the soul. It moves beyond simple philosophy to outline how ritual acts as a bridge between the mortal realm and the intelligible world. The authors argue that the soul is not a prisoner of the body bu

On the Mysteries (De Mysteriis)

This volume presents the definitive Neoplatonic defense of ritual as a tool for spiritual transformation. It shifts the focus from mere intellectual debate to the practical application of sacred symbols. Iamblichus posits that man exists as a unique bridge between the material and the eternal. The t

Against Celsus

This 1658 edition presents the definitive intellectual struggle between early Christian thought and pagan philosophy. Origen systematically dismantles the arguments of Celsus by shifting the debate from mere rhetoric to the moral transformation of the human soul. He argues that the life and death of

On the Pythagorean Life (De Vita Pythagorica)

This work presents Pythagoras not merely as a mathematician, but as a semi-divine reformer who sought to align human life with the order of the cosmos. It details a rigorous path of purification through music, diet, and strict communal ethics. Readers will encounter a tradition that treats education

On the Pythagorean Life

This expansive 1815 collection serves as the definitive gateway to the Pythagorean tradition, weaving together the biographies of Iamblichus and Porphyry with profound scholarly commentary. Readers will encounter a Pythagoras who is part scientist and part shaman—a man who disciplined his soul throu

Life of Pythagoras (Iamblichus)

In this classic translation by Thomas Taylor, Iamblichus presents Pythagoras as a semi-divine figure whose 'Pythagoric Life' serves as a blueprint for human excellence. The text moves beyond simple biography to synthesize ancient mysteries from Egypt and Babylon with a rigorous ethical framework tha

Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

This commentary serves as the definitive architecture of Neoplatonic thought, mapping the procession of all things from the One down to the physical realm. Proclus argues that the universe is not a product of blind chance but a living, ordered image sustained by divine providence. He treats the Tima

Commentary on the Timaeus

Proclus offers a breathtakingly dense metaphysical defense of Plato’s cosmology, positioning the soul as the critical 'middle nature' bridging the eternal and the material. By weaving together Pythagorean mathematics, Orphic theology, and rigorous dialectic, he argues that the cosmos is not a random

On the Mysteries (Thomas Taylor trans.)

In this foundational work of Neoplatonic thought, Iamblichus (writing as the Egyptian priest Abammon) offers a powerful rebuttal to the idea that religion is merely a human invention or a series of emotional delusions. By framing divine knowledge as an innate, eternal part of the soul's essence that

Problems Concerning First Principles

This text documents the final stand of the Platonic school against the encroaching silence of history. Damascius argues that any attempt to label or define the First Principle inevitably degrades it into a mere thing among many. He posits that the absolute must exist beyond Being and Unity to remain

Complete Works XVIII: Against Celsus I-IV (Lommatzsch)

In 'Contra Celsum I-IV,' Origen provides a groundbreaking response to the first major intellectual assault on Christianity. Rather than relying solely on tradition, Origen deconstructs Greek mythology as morally bankrupt while elevating the historical and ethical superiority of the Mosaic law and th

Complete Works XIX: Against Celsus V-VIII (Lommatzsch)

This work captures a master of Greek logic turning his focus toward his fiercest opponent. Origen refuses to retreat into silence; he dissects every charge Celsus brings against the Christian faith. He tackles the paradox of the incarnation, the validity of biblical allegory, and the nature of human

Lives of the Sophists and Fragments of the Histories

Eunapius of Sardis provides a defiant look at the fourth century through the lives of men he considers divine. He presents philosophers not as mere academics but as wonder-workers and living libraries who bridged the gap between humanity and the gods. The text combines intimate biographical details

Plutarch's Morals, Vol. 4 (includes Isis and Osiris)

In this compelling volume of 'Morals,' Plutarch investigates the enigmatic mechanics of the 'spirit of divination,' arguing that prophecy is as much a physical phenomenon as it is a divine one. By examining the transformative power of natural vapors and the 'dry' temperament of the soul, he suggests

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

Problems and Solutions Concerning First Principles, Volume 1

This text provides a front-row seat to the intellectual collapse of a dying tradition and the rigorous brilliance that accompanied it. Damascius argues that human reason is inherently inadequate when it tries to define the first principle, yet he maps the process of causality with unmatched precisio

Problems and Solutions Concerning First Principles, Volume 3

As the final leader of the Athenian Neoplatonic school, Damascius faces the impossible task of defining the source of all things. He argues that any description of the first principle inevitably limits it, as language requires duality and separation. The text rejects the simple labels used by his pr

Commentary on Plato's Timaeus, Vol. I

Proclus’s commentary on the Timaeus represents the pinnacle of Neoplatonic cosmology, offering a rigorous metaphysical map of the sensible world. He argues that the universe is not a chaotic assembly of matter, but a unified organism positioned between the eternal and the temporal through the 'middl

Commentary on Plato's Timaeus, Volume II

Ernst Diehl’s landmark edition of Proclus’ commentary is more than a philological triumph; it is a gateway to the ancient world’s most sophisticated interpretation of cosmic origins. By tracing the 'genealogy' of the text through the libraries of Renaissance cardinals and Byzantine scribes, Diehl re

Lives of the Sophists (Philostratus and Eunapius)

Philostratus and Eunapius present a world where language was the ultimate currency. These biographies reveal how public speaking morphed from a civic duty into a high-stakes performance art that granted men wealth, immunity from taxes, and direct access to emperors. The narrative captures the volati

Philostratus and Eunapius: Lives of the Sophists

Philostratus and Eunapius present a world where the ability to improvise a speech was the ultimate currency. These biographies document the transition from classical philosophy to the performative, often arrogant world of the Second Sophistic. Readers encounter figures who balanced immense wealth, c

Greek Magical Papyri (Papyri Graecae Magicae)

Karl Preisendanz’s monumental edition of the Greek Magical Papyri offers an unfiltered gaze into the 'working library' of the ancient magician. Far from mere superstition, these texts present a sophisticated theurgy where practitioners employ 'voces magicae,' animal sacrifice, and solar liturgies to

Papyri Graecae Magicae (Complete)

The 'Papyri Graecae Magicae' offers an unparalleled window into the 'lived religion' of late antiquity, presenting a gritty, practical manual of sorcery far removed from abstract philosophy. This collection assembles a dizzying array of rituals—ranging from the high theurgy of self-deification to th

The Eighth Book of Moses

The Eighth Book of Moses is a masterpiece of Greco-Egyptian syncretism, blending Hebrew tradition with Hermetic ritual to present a unique vision of divine creation and human empowerment. At its heart lies a startling cosmogony: a deity whose laughter creates light, water, and the soul itself. The t