Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

Claire Hall on Firmicus Maternus

Apr 5, 2023

37:18

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Episode notes

Introduction

2min

The Change in Direction of the Roman Empire

2min

Fermikas's Christian Polemic

2min

The Origins of Astrology in the Latin West

3min

The Politics of Fermicus

5min

The Social Context of Syracuse

2min

The History of Western Esotericism

3min

The Role of Firmicus in Predicting the Death of People

2min

Thorndike's Discussion on Drowning in the Roman World

3min

10.

The Dream Manual of Artemidorus

2min

11.

The Origins of Astrology in Ptolemy

2min

12.

The Raging Christian's Views on Free Will

2min

13.

The Early Christian Polemics Against Astrology

3min

14.

The Importance of Free Will in Christian Thought

5min

Firmicus Maternus, a fairly prominent fourth-century intellectual from Sicily, wrote two works which survive: one is our earliest-surviving manual of astrological practice in Latin, and it shows a full-blooded belief in astral determinism, and the second is a rabid Christian polemic against traditional religious practices. Discuss.

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