The Enigma of Pythagoras
Pythagoras of Samos (6th c. BCE) is the most enigmatic figure of ancient philosophy, and that’s saying a lot, because there’s stiff competition.
Primary Sources
Herodotus . Erodotos
This work defines the origins of Western historical inquiry. Herodotus travels across continents to track the customs, wars, and shifting boundaries of the ancient world. He focuses on the unstable nature of power and the inevitability of divine justice. Readers see how hubris drives kings to ruin a
Pal.gr.182
This work functions as the primary archive of ancient Greek philosophy. It moves beyond abstract theories to track the personal successions, dramatic exits, and bitter rivalries of history's greatest thinkers. You will encounter everything from the early cosmologies of pre-Socratic thinkers to the r
Parva Naturalia and Ambigua
Reg.gr.80 is a monumental intellectual tapestry that weaves together Classical philosophy and Patristic theology into a singular vision of human existence. The text moves boldly from Porphyry’s defense of Homeric epics to the radical 'Hesychast' claim that man can experience God through stillness an
Arist. De arte poetica . Aristotelous Peri poietikes . Ac praeterea Plutarchi, Herodoti, Dionis Chrysostomi, Libanii, Menandri, ac Demetrii Phalerei quaedam
Aristotle changed how we think about storytelling, but this volume goes much further. It includes essential guidance from Plutarch and Demetrius on how to read, write, and think critically. You will discover why poetry is more philosophical than history and how to spot a writer who is trying to dece
The Histories of Herodotus and Works of Plutarch and Gemistus Plethon
The authors examine why civilizations collapse and how leaders lose their grip on reality. By juxtaposing Herodotus's accounts of imperial hubris with the metaphysical arguments of Plethon and Plutarch, the text bridges the gap between ancient storytelling and systematic philosophy. You will encount
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
Herodotus (Cambridge, Emmanuel College, MS 30)
This text serves as the foundation for historical inquiry by documenting the rise of the Persian Empire and its struggle against Greek autonomy. Herodotus rejects simple storytelling to examine why empires fall and how culture shapes human behavior. He maintains that prosperity is fleeting and that
The Histories and Parallel Lives
Herodotus treats the past as a global crime scene where oracles mislead kings and empires vanish overnight. Plutarch then shifts the focus to the individuals behind the power, weighing the moral worth of lawgivers and tyrants alike. Together, they document how the wheel of fortune turns regardless o
Lives of the Philosophers
This text acts as the primary record for the history of Western philosophy. Diogenes does not just summarize complex arguments about atoms, the soul, or the nature of justice. He hunts for the truth in the strange habits, dying words, and scandalous behavior of his subjects. Readers encounter a mix
Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers is the ultimate ancient gossip column, preserved by Diogenes Laertius to reveal the personalities behind the grand theories. Rather than dry academic analysis, this work captures the 'successions' of Greek thought through colorful anecdotes, personal wills,
Life of Pythagoras and Sentences on the Intelligibles
Porphyry’s 'Life of Pythagoras and Sentences on the Intelligibles' offers a rare window into the ancient quest for spiritual deification through intellect and discipline. By blending a hagiography of Pythagoras—complete with his rejection of the 'impure' Cylon and his cryptic dietary bans—with a rig
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
Diogenes Laertius Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
This work stands as the primary historical record for the lives of the Greek philosophers. Laertius does not just list ideas; he records the character flaws, witty insults, and personal tragedies that defined these thinkers. He treats the history of philosophy as a human drama rather than a dry coll
The Histories
This is the first major work of Western history. Herodotus writes to ensure that great deeds remain etched in human memory. He surveys the clash between East and West, mapping the customs of distant lands from Scythia to Egypt. His narrative operates on the premise that power is inherently unstable.
Three Short Works (including Life of Pythagoras)
This volume, meticulously edited by the legendary August Nauck, preserves the surviving fragments of Porphyry’s most personal and provocative works. At its core, the text challenges the foundations of ancient Greek religion, replacing blood-soaked sacrifices with a philosophy of internal purity and
The Histories, Books 3-4
This text documents the Persian Empire at its most vulnerable, mapping the intersection of divine prophecy and human madness. Herodotus rejects dry chronicle for a narrative driven by cultural clash and the cycle of fortune. He argues that distance often correlates with absurdity, creating a world w
The Persian Wars
Herodotus captures a world in the midst of a violent, chaotic transition. He maps the collision between the absolute, expansionist power of the Achaemenid dynasty and the emerging, volatile identity of the Greek cities. His writing is not just a military record; it is an investigation into why empir