In January, I read eight books, among them Olympiodorus' Commentary on Plato's Phaedo. It comes from notes taken during his lectures, so as with any lecture notes, mileage may vary based on the likely-Christian student's (or students') accuracy and attentiveness. Here are a few notes. (As a reminder, I have a commonplace book tag with … Continue reading Some Quotations from Olympiodorus’ Commentary on Plato’s PHAEDO
Tag: proclus
Two Books
If you have been wondering what A CASTING OF LIGHT and THE SONG OF PROCLUS, compiled by Guy Wyndham-Jones and published by the Prometheus Trust, contains, this post provides some helpful information about the format, arrangement of quotations, and other elements, with a few photos for clarity.
Being Held Submerged
Reading one of Proclus' hymns and relating it to passages in the Platonic Theology was my very unexpected (unofficial) winter break hobby.
Death and What’s Best
A post from Sententiae Antiquae caught my eye a few days ago due to Apollon, and eerily, I kept thinking about it while reading the Platonic Theology due to several passages. Plutarch, Consolatio ad Apollonium 108-109: “Pindar says of Agamedes and Trophonius that they built a temple of Apollo and asked the god for a reward. He … Continue reading Death and What’s Best
Brief Thoughts after Reading Book VI of the Platonic Theology
Tonight, I finished reading the part of the Platonic Theology in the six books from Proclus; I'm about to commence with the remainder of the Prometheus Trust volume, which contains a seventh book by Thomas Taylor. (I've already read all of the endnotes, so I'm about 3/4 of the way through it.) I've been pushing … Continue reading Brief Thoughts after Reading Book VI of the Platonic Theology
Three Things to Begin 2021
At 12:00 AM on Friday, January 1, 2021, my neighborhood erupted into a loud exorcism of 2020 — a rough, hated year — and a welcome of 2021 — the year that many have placed our hopes and aspirations into — while I was in bed trying to stay awake reading Proclus' Platonic Theology. First … Continue reading Three Things to Begin 2021
Who Is the Poet?
Here are two different translations of the final bit of Proclus' Essay 5 (K69.10-19), on the Republic. What I find interesting in the translation choices — not knowing Ancient Greek — is the word choice between sin and failing. It's also interesting how the first translation separates out the hymns for the Gods from those … Continue reading Who Is the Poet?
From Plato, There Is No Escape
Socrates did, in fact, cancel Homer first. Except not. It's complicated.
Some Verses After Reading Proclus’ Platonic Theology 59-60 (Book IV, Chapter 20)
Even within the vacuum, physics awaits, ever-quiet — connecting-receiving stillness, infusions of illuminations, the foamy fizz of particles coming to be, ebbing to nothing — so delicate, voidless, lyrical.
KALLISTI 