Pure Souls as Functional Angels: Chaldean Oracles fr. 138 Reconsidered
This article presents a new interpretation of the later Neoplatonists’ reading of Chaldean Oracles fragment 138. In doing so, it exploits, for the first time in this context, Proclus’ distinctive interpretation of the myth of Er in In Rempublicam II. The central argument posits that the so-called pu...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2024
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| In: |
Phronesis
Year: 2024, Volume: 69, Issue: 2, Pages: 158-181 |
| Further subjects: | B
Salvation
B Proclus B Theurgy B Chaldean Oracles B Neoplatonism B Iamblichus |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article presents a new interpretation of the later Neoplatonists’ reading of Chaldean Oracles fragment 138. In doing so, it exploits, for the first time in this context, Proclus’ distinctive interpretation of the myth of Er in In Rempublicam II. The central argument posits that the so-called pure and perfect souls (e.g., Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato) are tantamount to the highest theurgists as ‘functional’ angels—i.e., they function as angels when engaging in their highest activity. By drawing on Iamblichus, Proclus, and Hermias of Alexandria, the article thus delves into the profound synthesis of philosophy and revelation in Late Antiquity. |
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| ISSN: | 1568-5284 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Phronesis
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685284-bja10087 |