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

Earl Fontainelle
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Dec 18, 2024 • 1h 9min

Naming Divine Nothingness: Introducing the Pseudo-Dionysios

Into the divine darkness of a hyper-non-existent god walks the Pseudo-Dionysios. In this episode we join many esoteric currents from the antique and late-antique past into a new synthesis which will forever shape western esotericism going forward.
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Oct 22, 2024 • 1h 22min

One Empire, Many Names: Reading “Byzantium” with Anthony Kaldellis

We are delighted to speak with Anthony Kaldellis about ‘Byzantium’, fabled empire full of Greek-speaking Romans which never fell until the fifteenth century, and which plays an outsize role in the history of western esotericism. Come for the historiographical debates about the term ‘Byzantine’, stay for the ‘Byzantine’ court astrology.
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Oct 16, 2024 • 1h

Contested Esotericisms at the End of Antiquity: Simplicius, Philoponus, and Olympiodorus

We discuss three of the most important thinkers from the final generations of philosophical teaching at Alexandria. One is an upstart Christian. Two are esoteric Platonists of the Golden Chain. One may or may not have been an alchemist.
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Sep 18, 2024 • 43min

The Last Platonists? Philosophic Teaching, Christianity, and Polytheism in Late-Antique Alexandria

We discuss how Platonist philosophical teaching played out at Alexandria before Justinian's edict of 529 and in its aftermath. Featuring cameo appearances from the fall of the western Roman empire and Horapollo's Hieroglyphika.
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Sep 11, 2024 • 51min

All from Nothing: Sara Rappe on Damascius

We discuss the great Damascius, final scholarch of the Athenian Academy, with Sara Rappe. Things become very apophatic.
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Aug 28, 2024 • 1h 4min

Hagia Sophia and the Problem of ‘Esoteric Architecture’

We discuss Justinian's great church, Hagia Sophia, the gem of Constantinople and of Orthodox Christianity. We then look at a number of theories out there which read Hagia Sophia as encoding esoteric messages beneath her Orthodox exterior, and use this case-study as a springboard for discussing the thorny problems involved in interpreting architecture, especially esoteric architecture.
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Jul 30, 2024 • 55min

Kevin van Bladel on the Ṣābians of Ḥarrān and the Fate of the Athenian Academy

We discuss the fascinating town of Ḥarrān (in present-day Türkiye), a place known from late antiquity until at least the eleventh century for its continued tradition of astral, polytheist worship. Kevin van Bladel tells us much to enthral us about this place, but also crushes the dream of a continued tradition of Athenian Late Platonism at Ḥarrān.
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Jul 24, 2024 • 1h 10min

Edward Watts on the Age of Justinian and the Closing of the Athenian Academy

Historian Edward Watts discusses the Age of Justinian, his transformative reign, closure of Athenian Academy, and Christianity crises. Topics include Justinian's ambitions, controversial actions, Council of Chalcedon, religious disputes, and the impact of his rule on Western Esotericism.
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May 29, 2024 • 52min

Danielle Layne on Proclus’ Religious Life and Thought

We are delighted to discuss what you might call Proclean spirituality with Danielle Layne. Platonic prayer as a way of living, the erotic quest for the Good, and the ever-elusive Platonic Dyad feature in a wide-ranging conversation combining proper philosophical-historical rigour with the true love of wisdom.
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May 22, 2024 • 43min

Graeme Miles on Proclus the Commentator

We discuss Proclus' titanic labours in the field of commentary – on many Platonic dialogues, but also on the Chaldæan Oracles, the Homeric poems, and a number of other texts – with Graeme Miles, an acute reader of Platonist philosophy and part of the team translating Proclus' Republic commentary into English. Come for Platonic commentary as spiritual practice, stay for the kosmic-astrological reading of the Myth of Er.

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