Numerical Mysteries: Nichomachus of Gerasa, Arithmology, and Second-Century Neopythagoreanism
In this episode we pick up some dangling threads from the Neopythagorean ‘tradition’ (which is more of an idea of a tradition than a tradition, but one which then became such a strong idea of a tradition that it became a tradition, if you see what we mean), discussing the intriguing first-century...
Primary Sources
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
Hieroclis Expositio versuum Pythagorae qui aurei dicuntur . Hermes Trismegistus . Adde etiam Hermes Trismegistus, Apuleio interprete
Hierocles provides a rigorous manual for navigating the soul's ascent from material distraction to intellectual clarity. He argues that human suffering is not a divine punishment but a result of our own misalignment with natural law. By practicing nightly self-examination, we can transform the body
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
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
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
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
Life of Pythagoras with Symbols and Golden Verses (Hierocles Commentary)
André Dacier and Hierocles offer a manual for the soul that refuses to tolerate intellectual laziness. They argue that the wisdom of Pythagoras is the bedrock of Western thought and a necessary precursor to Christian revelation. By stripping away centuries of historical gossip, they present a philos
The Kiranides (Kirani Kiranides)
The Kirani Kiranides stands as a breathtaking intersection of ancient natural philosophy and ritual magic, offering a glimpse into a time when the physical and spiritual realms were inextricably linked. This edition, enriched by the philological rigor of Rivinus and Rhyakinus, catalogs the medicinal
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
The Theology of Arithmetic
In this profound synthesis of Pythagorean and Platonic thought, edited by Friedrich Ast, mathematics is reclaimed from the realm of 'logistics' and elevated to a sacred theology. The text argues that numbers are not mere human inventions but the eternal, immaterial blueprints—the 'pre-existent sketc
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
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
Pistis Sophia
The 'Pistis Sophia' is a profound 4th-century Gnostic gospel that challenges traditional narratives, presenting a transfigured Jesus who reveals 'higher mysteries' to disciples like Mary Magdalene and Martha. This edition, meticulously preserved by scholars like Petermann and Woide, serves as a gate
Introduction to Arithmetic
Nicomachus of Gerasa’s 'Introduction to Arithmetic' is a profound synthesis of mathematical rigor and Pythagorean mysticism that served as the primary textbook for higher education from Late Antiquity through the Middle Ages. Nicomachus boldly asserts that arithmetic is the ontologically prior 'moth
On Numenius the Platonic Philosopher
Friedrich Thedinga’s dissertation reconstructs the thought of Numenius, a philosopher who dared to label Plato as Moses speaking in Attic Greek. The text critiques the historical corruption of the Platonic Academy and establishes a rigorous hierarchy of three distinct gods. Readers will encounter a
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
The Golden Verses of Pythagoras
This work restores the Golden Verses of Pythagoras to their status as tools for spiritual and moral development. D'Olivet challenges the modern view of art by insisting that poetry is a vehicle for divine truth rather than mere aesthetic arrangement. He maps the path of the soul from purgation to un