Martiana on Martianus Capella and the Marriage of Philology and Mercury
We speak with Ↄ. Martiana about Martianus Capella’s magnum opus, the allegorical ascent-narrative-cum-textbook The Marriage of Philology and Mercury.
Primary Sources
Cotton MS Tiberius C I
This manuscript acts as a dual manual for the medieval mind. It provides the tools to map the movements of stars and calculate the tides of time while simultaneously arming the believer against spiritual threats. The authors argue that the universe functions through mathematical precision, yet they
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
Poliphilo's Strife of Love in a Dream
The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is perhaps the most beautiful and enigmatic book ever printed, a towering achievement of the Aldine Press that synthesizes classical mythology with technical ingenuity. Francesco Colonna weaves a narrative of Poliphilo, a man lost in a dream-landscape of colossal pyrami
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
On Plato and the Chaldaean Oracles
In this profound exploration of Neoplatonic thought, Michael Psellos offers a masterful synthesis of Pythagorean mathematics, music theory, and metaphysical cosmology. By dissecting the 'soul-generation' described in Plato’s Timaeus, Psellos argues that the soul is not a random occurrence but a meti
Commentary on Aristotle's Three Books On the Soul
Simplicius treats the human body as a masterpiece of biological engineering governed by a central, immaterial soul. He argues that every anatomical feature, from the bend of a knee to the cooling mechanism of the lungs, serves a specific purpose in the preservation of life. By viewing the animal as
On the Marriage of Philology and Mercury
The Marriage of Philology and Mercury is a daring blend of myth and classroom instruction. Capella argues that eloquence without wisdom is dangerous, while wisdom without eloquence remains ineffective. He personifies the liberal arts as divine beings, effectively turning a dry curriculum into a cosm
Commentary on Aristotle's On the Soul
This commentary serves as a sharp, argumentative guide to Aristotle's theory of the soul. Philoponus rejects lazy interpretations of his predecessors and defends a vision of the intellect as an independent, eternal substance. He explains why we are not merely physical machines by untangling the role
The Chaldean Oracles
This text offers a rare, syncretic exploration of Zoroastrian oracles interpreted through the lens of Neoplatonic and Christian thought. It presents a universe structured in three distinct parts—the eternal, the immortal but generated, and the decaying—and positions the human soul as a mediator 'glu
Compendium on the Soul
Avicenna’s 'Compendium de anima' stands as a monumental bridge between Aristotelian science and spiritual metaphysics, offering a definitive roadmap of the human psyche. Ibn Sina argues that the soul is not a mere byproduct of physical elements, but a 'first perfection' granted by an external 'Giver
The Strife of Love in a Dream
The Strife of Love in a Dream (Hypnerotomachia Poliphili) is a singular masterpiece that bridges the gap between Hermetic philosophy and architectural theory. Attributed to Francesco Colonna, it follows the protagonist Poliphilo as he searches for his beloved Polia through a landscape of 'insolent'
The Dream of Poliphilus
Francesco Colonna’s 'The Dream of Poliphilus' is a singular monument of the Renaissance, blending a romantic quest with an exhaustive treatise on classical architecture and hermetic symbolism. Written in a daringly innovative linguistic style—a 'macaronic' fusion of Greek, Latin, and Italian—it chro
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
Philosophical Magic: Zoroaster and his 320 Chaldean Oracles
This work reclaims the identity of Zoroaster as a primordial philosopher rather than a mythical figure. Patrizi argues that the cosmos is a divine construction, pulsating with the activity of the Paternal Mind and maintained by the soul. Readers will find a rigorous defense of theurgy as a legitimat
Philosophical Magic: The Chaldean Oracles
This text provides a bridge between ancient pagan theology and the Christian era by asserting that the oldest sages were actually practitioners of a high, holy religion. Patrizi challenges the Aristotelian status quo of his time by arguing that philosophy is inherently tied to theurgy and the animat
The Marriage of Philology and Mercury
Martianus Capella’s 'The Marriage of Philology and Mercury' is far more than a textbook; it is an allegorical masterpiece that defined the medieval curriculum. In this 1599 edition, Hugo Grotius frames the seven liberal arts as the indispensable tools for effective governance, arguing that political
Amphitheater of Eternal Wisdom
Heinrich Khunrath’s 'Amphitheater of Eternal Wisdom' is a cornerstone of Western esotericism that dares to bridge the chasm between the physical and the metaphysical. By treating the 'Book of Nature' as a divine scripture written by the 'finger of God,' Khunrath presents a transformative methodology
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
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
Iamblichus On the Mysteries
Iamblichus 'On the Mysteries' is a monumental work of Neoplatonic philosophy that shifts the spiritual search from mere intellectual speculation to the experiential power of theurgy. Writing as the Egyptian priest Abammon, Iamblichus responds to the skepticism of Porphyry, arguing that the divine ca
The Works of Martianus Capella
This critical edition brings the strange, allegorical world of Martianus Capella into focus. Eyssenhardt treats the text as a product of compilation, tracing its roots back to lost works by Varro and other ancient thinkers. Readers will see how the liberal arts were personified as divine entities an
Commentary on Aristotle's On the Soul
This commentary provides a rigorous look at the Aristotelian definition of the soul, placing it firmly at the center of both natural science and metaphysics. Simplicius rejects attempts to define the soul as a mere collection of atoms or physical movements. Instead, he treats it as a formal substanc
Natural and Moral Questions, On Fate, On the Soul
In these pages, Alexander moves beyond mere commentary to defend the reality of human choice against the crushing weight of determinism. He argues that if every event is necessitated by a prior cause, the very idea of possibility loses its meaning. Readers will find a rigorous, logical defense of th
On the Chaldean Oracles
In 'De oraculis Chaldaicis', Wilhelm Kroll performs a masterclass in philological detective work, reconstructing the lost fragments of a text that Neoplatonists like Proclus considered more authoritative than Plato himself. This work navigates the high-stakes tension between rigorous historical crit
Commentary on Aristotle's On the Soul
This commentary serves as a battleground for the definition of the human person. Philoponus systematically dismantles materialist theories that view the soul as a mere harmony of body parts or a collection of physical elements. He asserts that the soul is not a single genus but a hierarchy of powers
The Chaldaean Oracles
G.R.S. Mead brings to life one of the most mysterious and influential texts of late antiquity, bridging the gap between Hellenic philosophy and Eastern mysticism. Through his unique Gnostic-leaning perspective, Mead decodes the cryptic Oracles to describe a universe governed by 'Iynges' (divine whir