Gretchen Reydams-Schils on Calcidius and the Timaeus
Gretchen Reydams-Schils has a book on Calcidius – translator into Latin of part of Plato’s Timæus, and commentator thereon – hot off the press.
Primary Sources
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.'
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
Vat.gr.243
This manuscript acts as a master class in the anatomy of language and existence. It moves from simple definitions of genus and species to the complex machinery of modal syllogisms. By analyzing how we predicate properties to subjects, the text forces the reader to confront the limits of human knowle
Philosophical and Literary Miscellany
Vat.gr.2181 is a multi-layered interrogation of the Greek soul, weaving together the technical precision of poetic metrics with the subversive chaos of Old Comedy. Through the works of Aristophanes and the reflections of Porphyry, the manuscript explores the corrupting influence of money on the poli
Plotinus, Enneads I-VI; Porphyry, Vita Plotini
This collection, organized by Porphyry, serves as a direct guide for anyone seeking to understand the soul's origin and ultimate return to the One. Plotinus treats philosophy not as an academic exercise, but as a practical path toward enlightenment. He argues that the physical world is merely a shad
Commentary on Platos Timaeus
Chalcidius’ Commentary on Plato’s Timaeus is a landmark of intellectual history, serving as the primary bridge between ancient Greek philosophy and the Latin West. This text presents a universe built not by chance, but by a 'Demiurge' using the tools of geometry, musical harmony, and arithmetic prop
On Abstinence from Animal Food
In this seminal Neoplatonist treatise, Porphyry argues that the consumption of meat is a spiritual anchor that binds the human soul to material distraction. By refuting the anthropocentric claims of the Stoics and Epicureans, he posits that animals possess reason, sensation, and a share in the 'comm
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
Select Works of Porphyry
Select Works of Porphyry offers a rigorous and poetic manual for spiritual transcendence that remains strikingly relevant today. Porphyry presents a radical defense of 'ethical vegetarianism,' arguing that the slaughter of animals is historically and spiritually linked to human warfare and moral dec
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
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
Timaeus
This text argues that the physical world is not an independent reality but a symbolic refraction of a universal soul. It solves the ancient deadlock between Herakleitos, who saw only constant change, and Parmenides, who saw only immutable stillness. By reconciling these opposites through the concept
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
Demotic Magical Papyrus of London and Leiden
The Demotic Magical Papyrus of London and Leiden represents a landmark in Egyptology, serving as the latest known manuscript written in the Demotic script. Editors Griffith and Thompson argue that while its contents of magic and medicine are inherently fascinating, the text’s true value lies in its
Demotic Magical Papyrus of London and Leiden, Vol. 3
This third volume of Griffith and Thompson’s seminal work serves as the ultimate philological grimoire, providing the essential linguistic framework for interpreting one of history’s most significant magical texts. It doesn't just translate; it decodes the 'Voces Magicae'—magical words of power—and
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