Robbert van den Berg on Proclus' Hymns
Primary Sources
Pal.gr.108
Pal.gr.108 is a rare look at the mind of the man who arguably triggered the European Renaissance. Plethon demands that his students achieve absolute linguistic clarity because he views sloppy speech as the root of moral failure. He treats grammar, etymology, and ethics as a single discipline. Throug
Orphic and Homeric Hymns
This remarkable collection offers an intimate look at the intersection of ancient Greek theology, ritual practice, and poetic tradition. By weaving together the Orphic perspective on cosmogony with the Homeric celebration of divine exploits, the text presents a world where every natural force—from t
Sallust on the Gods and the World; Proclus Hymns
Sallustius and Proclus present a rigorous framework for Neoplatonic theology. They argue that the world is an eternal expression of divine goodness, where evil acts only as a shadow caused by a lack of light. By practicing virtue and engaging with symbolic myths, the individual can escape the cycle
The Life of Proclus
This biography documents the transition of Proclus from a brilliant young student to the final great successor of the Athenian Academy. Marinus provides a map of the soul, scaling from basic civic virtues to the heights of theurgic practice and divine communication. He strips away the historical rum
Treatise on the Laws
The Treatise on the Laws stands as a defiant monument of late Byzantine intellectual ambition. Plethon rejects the theological innovations of his era to restore a hierarchy of gods modeled on Platonic metaphysics. He argues that human survival depends on alignment with divine providence through rigo
Homeric Hymns
These hymns function as both divine invocations and raw narrative portraits of the Olympian gods. They move beyond simple praise to explore how deities negotiate power, commit theft, and suffer loss. August Baumeister’s editorial work captures the tension between the original poetic vision and the c
Orphica (Abel Edition, with Proclus Hymns & Hymn to Isis)
Eugen Abel reconstructs the Orphic tradition by stripping away centuries of editorial clutter. He aligns fragmented myths and hymns into a logical sequence, transforming obscure lore into a cohesive theological system. The text argues that music, ritual, and language possess the power to move mounta
Homeric Hymns
This text compiles thirty-three hymns dedicated to the gods of the Greek pantheon, moving past the standard epics to show the deities in their formative moments. Albert Gemoll provides a rigorous edition that rejects the excessive editing of past scholars, choosing instead to honor the original manu
The Homeric Hymns (Allen & Sikes Critical Edition)
This landmark 1904 critical edition by Allen and Sikes offers a rigorous reconstruction of the Homeric Hymns, presenting them as vibrant 'rhapsodic preludes' that once set the stage for the performance of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Beyond mere translation, the editors make the bold claim that the te
Works of Homer (Vol. 5: Hymns, Cycle, Fragments)
Beyond the famous epics lies a world of divine hymns and fragmentary lore that defines the Greek mythological experience. This collection acts as both a primary source for the sacred rituals of the past and a critical map of how those stories survived the centuries. It traces the transition from ora