Frederico Fidler on Sallustius' On the Gods and the World
We are delighted to speak with Frederico Fidler about Sallustius' On the Gods and the World, a short manual of a popular nature outlining how Platonist metaphysics work, how traditional Hellenistic religion is thought to mirror those metaphysical realities, and how esoteric hermeneutics are the key
Primary Sources
Maximus of Tyre, Dissertations; Alcinous, The Handbook of Platonism (Didaskalikos)
These texts provide a rigorous blueprint for the soul's detachment from material vanity. Maximus of Tyre and Alcinous argue that human virtue is not a product of luck or nature but a disciplined alignment with the divine. They tackle the uncomfortable reality of moral failure and the necessity of re
The Complete Extant Works of Emperor Julian
Julian the Apostate’s Complete Extant Works offers a rare, firsthand glimpse into the mind of a ruler who attempted to turn back the clock of history. This collection captures the high-stakes struggle between dying Hellenism and nascent Christianity, framed by Julian’s unique blend of ascetic self-d
Ocellus Lucanus On the Nature of the Universe (Taylor 1831)
Ocellus Lucanus presents a rigorous defense of the eternity of the universe, arguing that the whole is indestructible even as its individual parts decay. By bridging the gap between celestial mechanics and human morality, the text positions procreation as a divine duty rather than a pursuit of pleas
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
The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus
This history serves as the final, brutal obituary for the Roman world as it stood before the collapse. Ammianus rejects the polite fictions of his era, documenting how cruelty and administrative rot replaced traditional virtue. He provides a soldier’s perspective on the fragility of borders and the
Ausonius, Vol. 1
Ausonius was a tutor to an emperor and a master of rhetorical display, yet his work functions best as a mirror for a changing civilization. He documented the shift from pagan rituals to Christian devotion with a sense of unease. His poems reveal the tension between a public life of prestige and a pr
Works of the Emperor Julian, Vol. 3 (Against the Galileans)
This volume is a primary source of unparalleled psychological and historical depth, capturing the final, defiant stand of classical polytheism against the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Through his letters and the famous treatise 'Against the Galileans,' Emperor Julian presents a sophisticate