Collection of the Chaldean Oracles
Part I The following remains of Chaldean theology are not only venerable for their antiquity, but inestimably valuable for the… Read More »Collection of the Chaldean Oracles
Thomas Taylor
Platonist, Author. Translator of Plato, Aristotle, Neoplatonists, etc.. Biography: Thomas Taylor
The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus
Full Title: THE MYSTICAL HYMNS OF ORPHEUS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK, AND DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE INVOCATIONS WHICH WERE USED… Read More »The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus
Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life
Full title: IAMBLICHUS’ LIFE OF PYTHAGORAS OR PYTHAGORIC LIFE. ACCOMPANIED BY FRAGMENTS OF THE ETHICAL WRITINGS OF CERTAIN PYTHAGOREANS IN… Read More »Iamblichus’s Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life
Iamblichus on The Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians
Full title: IAMBLICHUS ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE EGYPTIANS, CHALDEANS, AND ASSYRIANS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK, BY THOMAS TAYLOR ————… Read More »Iamblichus on The Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians
Olympiodorus’s Life of Plato
[p. 1] Let us now speak of the race of the philosopher, not for the sake of relating many particulars… Read More »Olympiodorus’s Life of Plato
On “The Good” and “The One” of Plato
The good, which is here celebrated by Socrates as that which reigns in the intelligible place, is neither the same… Read More »On “The Good” and “The One” of Plato
The Chaldean Oracles [Rearranged]
Here the Chaldean Oracles—compiled and translated by Thomas Taylor—have been arranged with the hope of demonstrating the essence of the… Read More »The Chaldean Oracles [Rearranged]
Marinus’s Life of Proclus, or “Concerning Felicity”
[Introduction] Marinus, the author of the ensuing life, was the disciple of Proclus, and his successor in the Athenian school.… Read More »Marinus’s Life of Proclus, or “Concerning Felicity”
The Works of Plato
Full Title: THE WORKS OF PLATO VIZ. HIS FIFTY-FIVE DIALOGUES, AND TWELVE EPISTLES TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK; NINE OF THE… Read More »The Works of Plato
Explanation of Certain Platonic Terms
As some apology may be thought necessary for having introduced, in the course of the following translation, certain unusual words… Read More »Explanation of Certain Platonic Terms
A Dissertation on the Life and Theology of Orpheus
Section I The great obscurity and uncertainty in which the history of Orpheus is involved, affords very little matter for… Read More »A Dissertation on the Life and Theology of Orpheus
The Republic
With an introduction, copious notes, and an Apology for the Fables of Homer by Proclus, introducing the 2nd and 3rd… Read More »The Republic
A Dissertation on the Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries
Εν ταις ΤΕΛΕΤΑΙΣ καθαρσεις ηγουνται και περιρραντηρια και αγνισμοι, α των εν απορρητοις δρωμενων, και της του θειου μετουσιας γυμνασματα… Read More »A Dissertation on the Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries
Fragments of the Ethical Writings of Certain Pythagoreans
FROM HIPPODAMUS, THE THURIAN, IN HIS TREATISE ON FELICITY. ———— Of animals, some are the recipients of felicity, but others… Read More »Fragments of the Ethical Writings of Certain Pythagoreans
General Introduction to the Philosophy and Writings of Plato
[p. iii] “Philosophy,” says Hierocles,1 “is the purification and perfection of human life. It is the purification, indeed, from material… Read More »General Introduction to the Philosophy and Writings of Plato
Proclus, The Elements of Theology
Foreword This admirable work contains two hundred and eleven propositions, disposed in a scientific order, and supported by the firmest… Read More »Proclus, The Elements of Theology
“On Tranquility,” by Hipparchus
Since men live but for a very short period, if their life is compared with the whole of time, they… Read More »“On Tranquility,” by Hipparchus
A Concise Exposition of Chaldaic Dogma, by Psellus
“They assert that there are seven corporeal worlds, one Empyrean and the first; after this, three etherial, and then three… Read More »A Concise Exposition of Chaldaic Dogma, by Psellus
The First Alcibiades
With Taylor’s “Additional Notes,” drawn from the MS Commentary of Proclus. Stephanus numbers included. Contents Introduction Translation Additional Notes Introduction1… Read More »The First Alcibiades
Pythagoric Sentences, from the Protreptics of Iamblichus
[Note:] Several of these sentences as published by Arcerius, are in a very defective state; but which, as the learned… Read More »Pythagoric Sentences, from the Protreptics of Iamblichus
“On the Virtues,” by Theages, Metapus & Clinias
From Theages, in his Treatise “On the Virtues”: The order of the soul subsists in such a way, that one… Read More »“On the Virtues,” by Theages, Metapus & Clinias
Proclus, Commentary on the Timaeus of Plato
Introduction Of that golden chain of philosophers, who, having themselves happily penetrated, luminously unfolded to others the profundities of the… Read More »Proclus, Commentary on the Timaeus of Plato
“On the Tetractys,” by Theon of Smyrna
The tetrad was called by the Pythagoreans every number, because it comprehends in itself all the numbers as far as… Read More »“On the Tetractys,” by Theon of Smyrna
“On Felicity,” by Hippodamus
Of animals, some are the recipients of felicity, but others are incapable of receiving it. And those animals, indeed, are… Read More »“On Felicity,” by Hippodamus
Plato’s Chariot Allegory, with the Commentary of Hermeas
[Introduction] The following is an exploration of the Platonic Charioteer Allegory, an allegory which appears not only in Greek philosophy, but… Read More »Plato’s Chariot Allegory, with the Commentary of Hermeas
Porphyry, On Abstinence from Animal Food
Book One 1. Hearing from some of our acquaintance, O Firmus,1 that you, having rejected a fleshless diet, have again… Read More »Porphyry, On Abstinence from Animal Food
The Pythagoric Sentences of Demophilus
1. Request not of the divinity such things as when obtained you cannot preserve; for no gift of divinity can ever… Read More »The Pythagoric Sentences of Demophilus
“The Good and Happy Man,” by Archytas
In the first place, it is requisite to know this, that the good man is not immediately happy from necessity;… Read More »“The Good and Happy Man,” by Archytas
Pythagoric Ethical Sentences from Stobæus
Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done. Choose rather to be strong in soul than… Read More »Pythagoric Ethical Sentences from Stobæus
Proclus, On the Theology of Plato
Book I. Chapter I. O Pericles, to me the dearest of friends, I am of opinion that the whole philosophy… Read More »Proclus, On the Theology of Plato
Introduction to Proclus, On the Theology of Plato
I rejoice in the opportunity which is afforded me of presenting the truly philosophic reader, in the present work, with… Read More »Introduction to Proclus, On the Theology of Plato
Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)
Latin Text Verum sine mendacio, certum et verissimum: quod est inferius, est sicut id quod est superius, et quod est… Read More »Tabula Smaragdina (The Emerald Tablet)
“Concerning Human Life,” by Euryphamus
The perfect life of man falls short indeed of the life of God, because it is not self-perfect, but surpasses… Read More »“Concerning Human Life,” by Euryphamus
On the Theology of Plato, a Seventh Book
Chapter I. The mundane Gods, or those divinities who give completion to the sensible world, are assigned the last order… Read More »On the Theology of Plato, a Seventh Book