Iamblichus' Life of PythagorasAuthentic memoirs of the life of Pythagoras--the father of philosophy and the inventor of geometry--hold the great interest for every lover of wisdom. Iamblichus' biography is universally acknowledged as deriving from sources of the highest antiquity. Its classic translation by Thomas Taylor was first printed in 1818 and is once again brought to light in this edition. During Iamblichus' life, the depth and sublimity of his writing and discourse attracted a multitude of associates and disciples from all parts of the world. The Emperor Julian wrote of him, "that he was posterior indeed in time, but not in genius, to Plato," and all the Platonists who succeeded him honored him with the epithet of "divine." Iamblichus' account of the life of Pythagoras begins with the great philosopher's birth on the island of Samos, his youth, and his wide renown in Greece. It briefly covers his early travels and his studies with the philosophers Anaximander and Thales, his twenty-two years of instruction in the temples of Egypt, and his initiation into the Egyptian and Babylonian mysteries. The later life and work of Pythagoras are richly elaborated, with humorous and profound anecdotes illustrating his philosophy and providing a unique view of community life under his tutelage in Crotona. Included are excerpts from his teachings on harmonic science, dietetic medicine, friendship, temperance, politics, parenthood, the soul's former lives and many other topics. The book also contains substantial sections on the Fragments of the Ethical Writings (the work of very early Pythagoreans) and the Pythagoric Sentences. |
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Page v
... divine ; and after the encomium passed on him by the acute Emperor Julian , " that he was posterior indeed in time , but not in genius , to Plato , " 1 all further praise of him would be as unnecessary , as the defamation of him by ...
... divine ; and after the encomium passed on him by the acute Emperor Julian , " that he was posterior indeed in time , but not in genius , to Plato , " 1 all further praise of him would be as unnecessary , as the defamation of him by ...
Page vii
... divine . " 1 Iamblichus shared in an eminent degree the favor of divinity , on account of his cultivation of justice ; and obtained a numerous multitude of associates and disciples , who came from all parts of the world , for the ...
... divine . " 1 Iamblichus shared in an eminent degree the favor of divinity , on account of his cultivation of justice ; and obtained a numerous multitude of associates and disciples , who came from all parts of the world , for the ...
Page viii
... divine bodies , unlike those that are mortal , are situated in souls . Thus also it might be asserted of Alypius , that he had migrated into soul , and that he was contained and governed by a nature superior to man . This Aly- pius had ...
... divine bodies , unlike those that are mortal , are situated in souls . Thus also it might be asserted of Alypius , that he had migrated into soul , and that he was contained and governed by a nature superior to man . This Aly- pius had ...
Page 1
... divine Pythagoras . For as it derives its origin from the Gods , it cannot be apprehended without their inspiring aid . To which we may also add , that the beauty and magnitude of it so greatly surpasses human power , that it is ...
... divine Pythagoras . For as it derives its origin from the Gods , it cannot be apprehended without their inspiring aid . To which we may also add , that the beauty and magnitude of it so greatly surpasses human power , that it is ...
Page 3
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Common terms and phrases
Abaris abstain according adapted afterwards all-various ancient anger animals Apollo Archytas asserted associates beautiful become body called cause celestial CHAP Charondas chord concerning conformable Crotonians dæmons deliberate choice Democedes denominated desire diapason diapente diatessaron diatonic genus disciples disciplines divine dogmas duad endeavoured energies Epimenides erudition especially Eurytus excellent exhorted farther felicity fortitude friendship Gods goreans greatest happened Hence Hippasus honor human Iamblichus impartible intellect irrational justice kind laws likewise Metapontum monad multitude narrate nature necessary observed participate passions perfect pertaining Philolaus philosophy Phintias piety Plato possess precepts principle Proclus produced proper Protreptics prudence purified Pytha Pythagoras Pythagoreans ratio reasoning power received requisite respect sacred sake says semitone sentences SENTENCES OF SEXTUS sesquialter signifies similar manner soul sound Stob Stobæus subsists summit Sybaris Symbol symphony temperance temple terrestrial tetractys tetrad things Timycha tion translation treatise virtue whole wisdom wise worthy καί