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Episode 69·September 11, 2019·roman

Plutarch's Myths of Cosmic Ascent

In this episode we look at three different homemade myths found in Plutarch's writings. All of them deal with the fate of the soul after death, all of them put the land of the dead in the sky, and all of them are exceedingly difficult to interpret. We have seen Plutarch interpret a myth esoterically

Listen on SHWEP29 sources in collection · 29 translated

Primary Sources

Republic, Laws, and Timaeus

Plato · -375 · Greek · 706 pages

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.'

69% translated

On Paradoxical Machines

Anthemius of Tralles · 950 · Greek · 432 pages

In 'On Paradoxical Machines,' Anthemius of Tralles offers a rare synthesis of high Euclidean theory and the practical grit of Byzantine engineering. As one of the master architects of Constantinople, Anthemius argues that the most profound challenges of the physical world—from the construction of bu

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Arist. De arte poetica . Aristotelous Peri poietikes . Ac praeterea Plutarchi, Herodoti, Dionis Chrysostomi, Libanii, Menandri, ac Demetrii Phalerei quaedam

Aristotle; Plutarch; Herodotus · 1450 · Greek · 246 pages

Aristotle changed how we think about storytelling, but this volume goes much further. It includes essential guidance from Plutarch and Demetrius on how to read, write, and think critically. You will discover why poetry is more philosophical than history and how to spot a writer who is trying to dece

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The Histories of Herodotus and Works of Plutarch and Gemistus Plethon

Herodotus; Plutarch; Gemistus Plethon · 1450 · Greek · 376 pages

The authors examine why civilizations collapse and how leaders lose their grip on reality. By juxtaposing Herodotus's accounts of imperial hubris with the metaphysical arguments of Plethon and Plutarch, the text bridges the gap between ancient storytelling and systematic philosophy. You will encount

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Commentaries on Euripides, Aeschylus, and Aristophanes

Moschopoulos; Thomas Magister · 1450 · Greek · 458 pages

Moschopoulos and Thomas Magister move beyond simple translation to reveal the rigorous construction of classical drama. They treat the stage as a machine where every word, meter, and ritual gesture performs a specific task. By linking linguistic structure to philosophical concepts like the tripartit

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Description of Greece

Pausanias · 1491 · Greek · 317 pages

This work stands as an intellectual bridge between the classical observation of nature and the pursuit of metaphysical truth. It treats the landscape not merely as ground to be crossed, but as a site where divine providence and human conduct collide. The author rejects the idea that gods cause human

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Quaestiones Convivales (Moralia 46 = Plan. 78) (defective at the end and with lacunae) (Cambridge, University Library, MS Nn.2.39)

Plutarch · 1500 · Greek · 213 pages

This text invites you to pull up a chair at a table populated by the greatest minds of antiquity. Plutarch bridges the gap between the trivial and the cosmic, arguing that how we dine, drink, and converse reflects our deepest moral character. He treats the symposium not as a place for simple revelry

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The Complete Works of Plato Translated by Marsilio Ficino

Plato; Ficino, Marsilio (translator) · 1518 · Latin · 796 pages

This collection serves as a portal to the mind of Plato as seen through the eyes of one of the 15th century's most influential thinkers. Ficino treats philosophy not as a sterile academic exercise but as a medicine for the soul. He constructs an argument for the harmony between pagan wisdom and Chri

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The Complete Extant Works of Clement of Alexandria

Clemens Alexandrinus · 1551 · Latin · 558 pages
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Complete Extant Works

Clement of Alexandria · 1551 · Greek · 505 pages

This collection serves as a direct challenge to the foundations of ancient religious life. Clement strips away the veneer of pagan mythology, exposing its deities as merely mortal men and its temples as burial grounds. He argues that Greek philosophy, while incomplete, provides the essential logical

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The Complete Works of Plato

Plato (Ficino translation) · 1557 · Latin · 718 pages

This monumental edition of Plato’s *Opera Omnia* is more than a translation; it is a sacred bridge between Greek antiquity and Renaissance humanism, curated by Marsilio Ficino to harmonize philosophy with divine religion. Within these pages, readers will find the 'divine' Plato—a thinker who argues

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Description of Greece

Pausanias · 1583 · Greek-Latin · 868 pages

This text operates as both a physical roadmap of ancient Greece and a critical historical inquiry. Pausanias rejects the blind acceptance of local myths, choosing instead to weigh stories against physical evidence and his own observations. He captures the melancholy of a dying culture as he document

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The Complete Works of the Divine Plato

Plato; trans. Marsilio Ficino · 1590 · Latin · 916 pages

This 1590 edition of Plato’s 'Complete Works' serves as a spiritual and intellectual map of the human condition, viewed through the transformative Neoplatonic lens of Marsilio Ficino. Synthesizing classical dialectic with religious piety, the text argues that the ultimate end of man is to achieve a

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Extant Works

Clement of Alexandria · 1592 · Greek · 471 pages

Clement does not view the world of Greek philosophy as an enemy to his faith. Instead, he treats it as a classroom where humanity learns to recognize the truth found in Christ. He argues that Greek thinkers were essentially students of Hebrew prophecy who failed to grasp the full picture. This colle

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Works in Greek and Latin

Clement of Alexandria · 1616 · Greek · 814 pages

Clement treats the entirety of human existence as a classroom for the soul. He claims that Greek philosophy contains fragments of divine truth, though it ultimately fails to reach the goal of salvation. Instead, he proposes the Word of God as the true Instructor who heals the passions and guides hum

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Greek Patrology, Vol. 8: Clement of Alexandria I

Clement of Alexandria · 1857 · Greek · 709 pages
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Works, Vol. I (Dindorf, Oxford)

Clement of Alexandria · 1869 · Greek · 522 pages

Clement of Alexandria presents a bold vision where Greek philosophy serves as a mere prelude to the ultimate truth of the Logos. He argues that while poets like Orpheus and Sophocles caught sparks of divinity, only the Christian Way offers a complete transformation of human nature. This text is not

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Plutarch's Morals, Vol. 4 (includes Isis and Osiris)

Plutarch (trans. William W. Goodwin) · 1870 · English · 538 pages

In this compelling volume of 'Morals,' Plutarch investigates the enigmatic mechanics of the 'spirit of divination,' arguing that prophecy is as much a physical phenomenon as it is a divine one. By examining the transformative power of natural vapors and the 'dry' temperament of the soul, he suggests

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Plutarch's Morals, Vol. 5

Plutarch (trans. William W. Goodwin) · 1870 · English · 564 pages

This volume provides a fascinating window into Plutarch’s dual mastery of political ethics and natural philosophy. Plutarch moves beyond mere biography to offer bold claims about the physical world—arguing that cold is an active force rather than a mere absence of heat, and critiquing the Stoic visi

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Timaeus (Greek text with commentary)

Plato (ed. R.D. Archer-Hind) · 1888 · Greek · 380 pages

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

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Timaeus

Plato · 1888 · English · 380 pages

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

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The Republic

Plato · 1894 · Greek · 520 pages

Most people act justly only because they fear the consequences of getting caught. Plato guts this assumption by creating a theoretical city where justice is defined not by laws, but by the internal harmony of the individual soul. He argues that political stability requires rulers who hate power and

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Pausanias: Description of Greece, Vol. 1

Pausanias (tr. James George Frazer) · 1898 · Greek · 728 pages

This text preserves the physical state of Greece during the second century. Pausanias functions as an honest, if occasionally clumsy, guide who records temples, statues, and local legends that have long since vanished. He bridges the gap between deep religious faith and a burgeoning rationalist skep

70% translated

Pausanias: Description of Greece, Vol. 5 (Commentary)

Pausanias (ed. James George Frazer) · 1898 · Greek · 676 pages

In this masterful commentary, James George Frazer transforms Pausanias’s ancient travelogue into a vibrant cross-disciplinary investigation. By merging topographical analysis with comparative anthropology, Frazer explores bold claims regarding the universal nature of water-serpent myths and the psyc

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Works of Plato (Republic, Timaeus, Critias)

Plato · 1902 · Greek · 562 pages

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

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Clement of Alexandria I: Protrepticus and Paedagogus

Clement of Alexandria · 1905 · Greek · 448 pages
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Clement of Alexandria II: Stromata I-VI

Clement of Alexandria · 1906 · Greek · 560 pages

Clement argues that all wisdom originates from a singular divine source. He asserts that Greek philosophy serves as a vital tool for the believer, provided it is treated as a preparation rather than the final destination. The text demands intellectual rigor and warns against the vanity of mere debat

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The Miscellanies, Books I-VI

Clement of Alexandria (ed. Otto Stählin) · 1906 · German · 548 pages

This text operates as a masterclass in synthesis, bridging the gap between pagan philosophy and the rigorous demands of the Christian faith. Clement claims that the Greeks borrowed their greatest insights from Hebrew prophets, framing philosophy as a necessary preparation for a deeper understanding

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Clement of Alexandria III: Stromata VII-VIII, Excerpts, and Who is the Rich Man that Shall be Saved?

Clement of Alexandria · 1909 · Greek · 916 pages

This volume functions as the ultimate key to the library of a brilliant mind. Clement of Alexandria does not merely cite pagan authors; he reframes their concepts of virtue, cosmology, and ethics to construct a Christian framework. He demands that his readers move beyond simple faith toward a rigoro

Fully translated

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