{"word_count": 619, "character_count": 4616}
Philosophy and Theurgy in Late Antiquity &#160;Algis Uzdavinys (Author), John Finamore (Foreword), jan/2010&#160;The Ancient Philosophy, in its original Orphico-Pythagorean and Platonic form, is not simply a way of life in accordance with the divine or human intellect (nous), but also the way of alchemical transformation and mystical illumination achieved through initiatic “death” and subsequent restoration at the level of divine light. As a means of spiritual reintegration and unification, ancient philosophy is inseparable from the hieratic rites. The theurgic “animation” of statues appears to be among the main keys for understanding how various royal and priestly practices, related to the daily ritual service and encounter with the divine presence in the temples, developed into the Neoplatonic mysticism of late antiquity.(Text by the author)&#160;Contents&#160;ForewordIntroduction The origins and meaning of philosophyEidothea and Proteus: the veiled images of philosophyThe distinction between philosophical life and philosophical discourseStanding face to face with immortalityPhilosophy and the hieratic rites of ascentThe task of ‘Egyptian philosophy’: to connect the end to the beginningThe Kronian life of spectator: ‘to follow one’s heart in the tomb’Thauma idesthai: ‘a wonder to behold’The invincible warriors as models of philosophical lifestyleThe inward journey to the place of truthTo be like OsirisThe death which detaches form the inferiorEntering the solar barque of Atum-RaPhilosophical initiations in the NetherworldSelf-knowledge and return to one’s innermost selfRecovered unity of Dionysus in ourselvesPhilosophical mummification inside the cosmic tombPlatonic dialectic: the science of purificarion and restoration of unityPhilosophy as a rite of becoming like GodThe ancient logos and its sacramental functionRiddles of the cosmic MythPhilosophy, magic, and laughter&#160; Voices of the fire : ancient theurgy and its toolsDefinitions of theurgy in antiquityDescending lights and animated cult imagesFigures, names, and tokens of the divine speechThe prophet Bitys and the overwhelming Name of GodThe descending and ascending paths of HekaThe Silence beforer the gods and its creative magicHekate’s golden ball as a rotating ‘vocal image’ of the FatherThe Sounding breaths of the All-Working FireThe Elevating rays of the resounding lightThe rites of hieratic invocation and ascentThe Tantric alchemy and the Osirian mummificationGolden seeds of the noetic FireTheurgic speech of the birds and solar knowledgeTongues of the gods and their songsBack to the life-giving wombs and the ineffable SilenceChanting out the universe by the Name of everythingWhen Orontes flowed into Tiber: the revived tradition&#160; Sacred images and animated statues in antiquityMyth and symbol: what makes the impossible happen?Metaphysics of creation and its images in pharaonic EgyptTheogonic appearances and animated stonesTheology of images and its esoteric dimensionPrivileged habitations for the immortal godsBeholding the ineffable beautiesDivine bodies and representations in Indian TantrismSense perception and intellection in NeoplatonismDivine light and luminous vehicle of the soulDivine presence in imagesLiving images of the Egyptian godsTo be made into a spirit of lightRites of alchemical transformationThe opening of the statue’s mouthMystical union with the noetic SunRevelation of the divine faceDivine statues and their sacred giftsSalvation as return to the divine&#160; Metaphysical symbols and their function in theurgySymbols as ontological traces of the divineThe anagogic power of secret names and tokensAnimated theurgic hieroglyphs of the hidden AmunNeoplatonic rites of metaphysical reversionThe ineffable statues of trancendent light&#160; Divine rites and philosophy in neoplatonism.Ritual and cosmic orderThe aim of philosophyDifferent aspects of divine actsTheurgy and spiritual hermeneuticsHieratic rites of ascentThe common metaphysical backgroundPhilosophers as sacred statuesTo be reborn into the solar worldThe cosmic theatre of sacrificial firesGolden cords of ApolloThe shining forth like a god&#160;Appendix: The limits of Speculation in NeoplatonismThe Hermeneutical program of reading NeoplatonismNon-discursive divine presence and relational transcendenceMasks and tongues of the ineffableThe distinction between looking up at the Sun and looking down at reflectionsModes of intellection and unionTo live means to readGolden cords of ApolloThe shining forth like a god&#160;Bilbiography of works on Philosophy&#38;TheurgyGlossary of termsBiographical note