The Chaldaean Oracles and Theurgy

Proclus in Politiam Platonis . Proklos eis Politeian tou Platonos

In this commentary, the last great Neoplatonist philosopher reconciles the poetic genius of Homer with the rigorous logic of Plato. Proclus argues that myths are not fabrications but deliberate veils for ineffable truths. He maintains that true music and rhythm serve as the structural foundation for

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

Proclus: Platonic Theology and Elements of Theology

This work defines the hierarchy of the universe through the eyes of one of antiquity's final great thinkers. Proclus argues that reality is not a random collection of objects but a systematic emanation from the One. He explains how human intellect can bridge the gap between mortal limitations and et

Pal.gr.64

In Pal.gr.64, Michael Psellos offers a masterful synthesis of Homeric epic and Byzantine intellectualism. Far more than a mere commentary, this work explores the heavy burden of divine sovereignty and the intricate psychological tensions that drive both gods and men. From the heights of Olympus to t

De Civitate Dei

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians

This work defends traditional religious practice against the skepticism of philosophers like Porphyry. Iamblichus asserts that the gods are not swayed by human emotions, but rather that rituals align the human soul with a pre-existing divine order. He defines the universe as a singular, living organ

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

The Divine Pymander, Asclepius, and On the Mysteries

This monumental synthesis of Hermetic and Neoplatonic thought offers a radical roadmap for the soul’s ascent from the sensory 'multitude' to the intellectual 'One.' By weaving together the revelations of Hermes Trismegistus with the rigorous defenses of Iamblichus and the metaphysical depth of Procl

Pymander. Asclepius. On the Mysteries of the Egyptians. On Plato's Alcibiades, on the Soul and the Daemon. On Sacrifice.

This seminal volume brings together the core texts of the Hermetic and Neoplatonic traditions, asserting a unified lineage of 'ancient theology' (Prisca Theologia) that flows from Hermes Trismegistus to Plato. Readers will encounter bold claims about the human condition: that we are 'twofold' beings

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians - Pimander - Asclepius

This volume serves as a primary manual for understanding the mechanics of theurgy and the nature of the soul. It moves beyond simple philosophy to outline how ritual acts as a bridge between the mortal realm and the intelligible world. The authors argue that the soul is not a prisoner of the body bu

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

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

Proclus, Theologia Platonica; Michael Psellos

This essential exploration of Neoplatonic thought bridges the gap between Platonic philosophy and the mystical traditions of Orpheus and the Chaldeans. Proclus and Psellos argue that the universe is not a random collection of matter, but a sophisticated hierarchy governed by the interplay of 'Limit'

Michael Psellos on Plato's Psychogony and John Kamateros on Astronomy

This manuscript represents a pinnacle of 11th-century Byzantine scholarship, merging the abstract metaphysics of Plato with the concrete precision of ancient astrology. Michael Psellos provides a daring commentary on the soul's composition, arguing that its essence is defined by harmonic ratios that

Commentary on the First Book of Euclid's Elements

This commentary moves beyond standard textbook explanations to position Euclid as a guide for metaphysical development. Proclus argues that mathematical forms are innate to the soul, acting as a mirror for higher intellectual archetypes. He challenges the reader to look past the visible drawing of a

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

On the Virtues of Stones

De Lapidum Virtutibus is a captivating intersection of Byzantine natural philosophy, classical philology, and sympathetic magic. Michael Psellos sidesteps the abstract theorizing of the 'Dogmatists' to offer an empirical catalog of gemstones used to treat ailments ranging from epilepsy to melancholy

Elements of Theology and Physics

Proclus’s 'Elements of Theology and Physics' is a monumental achievement in late classical philosophy, offering a systematic 'More Geometrico' (mathematical style) approach to the nature of existence. By transforming metaphysical inquiry into a series of logical propositions and proofs, Proclus maps

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

Dialogue on the Operation of Daemons

This dialogue moves beyond theological speculation to present demonology as a form of natural science. Psellos claims that demons possess airy, material bodies subject to the same physical laws as animals and humans. He documents how these creatures sustain themselves, why they fear iron, and how th

Proclus (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.5.11)

This manuscript preserves the rigorous dialectic of one of antiquity’s final great minds. Proclus examines the One not as a physical object, but as the absolute origin and end of every existing thing. He challenges the reader to consider how a source can be responsible for all diversity without beco

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

Platonic Theology (Thomas Taylor trans.)

This work functions as a complete, scientific manual for navigating the hierarchy of the universe. Proclus rejects the idea that the divine is beyond our reach; instead, he provides a rigorous path for the human soul to return to its source. Readers will encounter a vision where stars are living bei

Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

This commentary serves as the definitive architecture of Neoplatonic thought, mapping the procession of all things from the One down to the physical realm. Proclus argues that the universe is not a product of blind chance but a living, ordered image sustained by divine providence. He treats the Tima

Commentary on the Timaeus

Proclus offers a breathtakingly dense metaphysical defense of Plato’s cosmology, positioning the soul as the critical 'middle nature' bridging the eternal and the material. By weaving together Pythagorean mathematics, Orphic theology, and rigorous dialectic, he argues that the cosmos is not a random

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

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

Problems Concerning First Principles

This text documents the final stand of the Platonic school against the encroaching silence of history. Damascius argues that any attempt to label or define the First Principle inevitably degrades it into a mere thing among many. He posits that the absolute must exist beyond Being and Unity to remain

Proclus: Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

Tzetzes' Allegories of the Iliad and Psellos' Allegories

In this provocative Byzantine commentary, John Tzetzes and Michael Psellos bridge the gap between ancient epic and scientific inquiry. They argue that the supernatural elements of the Iliad—from the divine fire of heroes to rains of blood—are not miracles, but natural phenomena and mechanical invent

Dialogues of Plato, Vol. 1 (Ion, Symposium, Phaedrus, Cratylus)

This volume collects the essential conversations that define Western philosophy. You will follow Socrates as he forces his peers to examine their own ignorance instead of hiding behind popular opinions. The text argues that virtue is knowledge, yet it frequently concludes with the humbling admission

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

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

Problems and Solutions Concerning First Principles, Volume 1

This text provides a front-row seat to the intellectual collapse of a dying tradition and the rigorous brilliance that accompanied it. Damascius argues that human reason is inherently inadequate when it tries to define the first principle, yet he maps the process of causality with unmatched precisio

Problems and Solutions Concerning First Principles, Volume 3

As the final leader of the Athenian Neoplatonic school, Damascius faces the impossible task of defining the source of all things. He argues that any description of the first principle inevitably limits it, as language requires duality and separation. The text rejects the simple labels used by his pr

Commentary on Plato's Timaeus, Vol. I

Proclus’s commentary on the Timaeus represents the pinnacle of Neoplatonic cosmology, offering a rigorous metaphysical map of the sensible world. He argues that the universe is not a chaotic assembly of matter, but a unified organism positioned between the eternal and the temporal through the 'middl

Commentary on Plato's Timaeus, Volume II

Ernst Diehl’s landmark edition of Proclus’ commentary is more than a philological triumph; it is a gateway to the ancient world’s most sophisticated interpretation of cosmic origins. By tracing the 'genealogy' of the text through the libraries of Renaissance cardinals and Byzantine scribes, Diehl re

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