Jay Bregman on Synesius of Cyrene
We are delighted to speak with Professor Jay Bregman, a man who knows a thing or two about Synesius of Cyrene.
Primary Sources
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
Tetrabiblos and Centiloquy
Claudius Ptolemy’s Quadripartitum, enriched by Hali’s classic commentary, stands as the most influential defense of astrology as a legitimate branch of natural philosophy. Rather than mere superstition, Ptolemy presents astrology as a rigorous study of physical influence, where the four qualities—he
Tetrabiblos (Quadripartitum)
On Kingship; On Dreams
This collection captures the volatile intersection of Neoplatonic thought and late Roman political catastrophe. Synesius refuses to separate his intellectual life from the grim realities of governing a crumbling province. He employs everything from sharp political satire to intricate theological myt
Letters
The 'Epistolae' of Synesius of Cyrene offers a rare, unfiltered look at the intersection of Neoplatonic philosophy and early ecclesiastical authority. Writing from the frontier of the Roman Empire, Synesius grapples with the 'contagion' of sin, the deceptive masks of piety used in political land gra
Tetrabiblos (The Four Books)
This text argues that celestial bodies act as a physical engine for the terrestrial world. Ptolemy maintains that the movements of the Sun and Moon regulate the seasons and the physical constitution of every living thing. By applying these observations to human birth charts, he creates a system for