Meet Iamblichus, the Divine, a Platonist philosopher and wonder-worker. Explore his fascinating life and writings, including levitation and miraculous apparitions. Learn about his ancestry, mentors, and associations, as well as his love for wise barbarians. Discover the miracles performed by Iamblichus, including summoning boys from hot springs. Delve into his works and philosophical approach, with a focus on his complex metaphysics. Explore his literal reading of Plato's dialogues and his criticism of Numinius' theory of the soul. Lastly, learn about Iamblichus' influential position in late-Platonic thought and his resistance to Christianity.
Iamblichus, a Platonist philosopher, was known for his levitation and miraculous apparitions.
Yamblicos' writings had a profound influence on later Platonist thinkers, shaping their metaphysical ideas and integrating practical rituals and occult sciences.
Deep dives
Yamblicos' Background and Birth: Noble Ancestry and Semitic Origins
Yamblicos was born in Halchis, probably in modern-day kynisrin in northern Syria, around 240 CE. He came from a noble lineage of priest kings of Emesa, known for their involvement in Hellenistic and Roman politics. Yamblicos chose not to adopt a Greek or Roman name and took pride in his Semitic origins.
Yamblicos' Education and Relationship with Porphyry
Yamblicos studied under Anatolius before becoming a student of Porphyry, possibly in Rome. The exact nature of their relationship is uncertain, but Yamblicos is known to have heard Porphyry make certain statements and received a dedication from him. Scholars debate the extent to which Yamblicos was a student or a mature peer of Porphyry.
Yamblicos' School and Following
After his studies, Yamblicos established his own school, possibly in Appamea or Daphne near Antioch. His school was known for engaging in philosophical discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and studying Platonic and other texts. Yamblicos was often accompanied by a large group of students, who saw him as a semi-divine, wonder-working figure.
Yamblicos' Works and Influence
Yamblicos wrote extensively, with many of his works, including commentaries on Plato and Aristotle, being lost. His surviving works cover diverse topics such as metaphysics, theology, soul, and Pythagoreanism. Yamblicos' writings had a profound influence on later Platonist thinkers, shaping their metaphysical ideas and integrating practical rituals and occult sciences. He also became a significant figure in the resistance against Christianity and later influenced Christian and Islamicate intellectual traditions.
We introduce Iamblichus, known to later Platonists as ‘the Divine’, ‘the Great Iamblichus’, Platonist philosopher and wonder-working holy-man. Come for the basic biographical summary and discussion of the Iamblichean corpus of writings, stay for the levitation and miraculous apparitions.
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