#synesius

[greysmartwolf]

Rupert Evans as Synesius . Agora (2009)

[svenson777]

"It is an old tradition, I think, and quite in the manner of Plato, to conceal the profound thoughts of philosophy behind the mask of some lighter treatment, that thereby whatsoever has been acquired with difficulty shall not be again lost to men, nor shall such matters be contaminated by lying exposed to the approach of the profane. The end accordingly has been most zealously pursued in the present work, and whether it attains this end, and whether in other respects it is wrought with distinction after the manner of the ancients, let those decide who shall approach it in a spirit of loving labor."

Synesius "De insomniis" (On dreams), Preface

[theeleventhsignofthezodiac]

Ouroboros - A copy of a 1478 drawing by Theodoros Pelecanos of an alchemical tract attributed to Synesius

[rogerpearse]

A new translation of Synesius' Encomium of Calvitius from Anthony Alcock

A new translation of Synesius’ Encomium of Calvitius from Anthony Alcock

Anthony Alcock has translated Synesius of Cyrene’s Encomium on Calvitius from Greek.  Synesius was a contemporary of Hypatia, and lived in the late 4th century.  The Fitzgerald translation of all the works of Synesius is already online, but evidently Dr. A just fancied a bit of Greek!

Here it is:

 Synesius Encomium Calvitii_Alcock (PDF)

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[blod-stream]

A single source, a single root of light, jets out and spreads itself into three branches of splendour. A breath blows round the earth, and vivifies in innumer- able forms all parts of animated substance.

HYMN II—Synesius

[bowtothelights]

[quitehazy]

Hypatia: "Synesius, you don't question what you believe, or cannot. I must."