The word theology is derived from the Greek word “theo” meaning “god,” and thus entails the study of the Gods. Another word, philosophy, stems from the Greek words “philo,” meaning “love,” and “sophia,” meaning “wisdom,” and thus means “love of wisdom.”
Despite the name Platonism, Plato is understood as merely a step (albeit, an important one) in a tradition from Pythagoras which truly began with Orpheus, who is regarded as the primary theologian of the Hellenic religion and prototypical authority on ritual practice. The Platonic philosophy is “a prolongation of the Orphic theology” (Uždavinys 2004, introduction p. xviii), and Olympiodorus blatantly states that “Plato paraphrases Orpheus everywhere” (Olympiodorus, In Phaed. 10.3.13) while the divine Julian says that Orpheus is “the most ancient of all the inspired philosophers” (Flavius Claudius Iulianus, II 99) and “the founder of the most sacred of all the Mysteries” (Flavius Claudius Iulianus, II 105). Philosophers such as Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, and so on, are in a direct line from Orpheus, and Orphic teachings can be found in the their thought.
The Platonic tradition is also something which requires critical thinking, and that can sometimes mean people who were important to the history and formation of Platonism could be wrong— even Plato. On issues concerning art, Numenius argues that Plato merely misinterpreted Pythagorean issues. Likewise, the divine Iamblichus frequently sides with the Pythagoreans over Plato, and often couched his own opinions on terms of Pythagoreanism. The blessed Julian viewed Iamblichus as more than second to Plato, and wrote he would give all the gold in Lydia for one epistle of Iamblichus.
This website is dedicated to reconstructing the personal religion of the divine Emperor Julian, and adheres to Iamblichean Platonism.
Cosmic Principle: The One
An in-depth explanation and understanding of the One, also known as the Good.
Deities
An encyclopedia of different Hellenic Gods & an explanation of the Twelve Olympians.
Creation
An explanation on the creation of the cosmos & of humankind.
Beauty & Love
An explanation of Beauty (Kalon) and Love (Eros) in Platonism, and its relation to the soul and to theurgy.
Paideia
An overview of true education, which is foundational to proper religion.
The Soul
An overview of the Iamblichean Platonist standing on the soul.
The Afterlife
An overview on the afterlife, with regards to metempsychosis and henosis.
Origin of Evil
An age-old question is “if the Gods are good, where does evil come from?” This provides an answer to that question.
The Chaldean Oracles
A reconstruction of the revealed text of Julian the Chaldean and Julian the Theurgist which is the basis of all theurgic practice.
Icons & Images
A defense of the use of icons for religious worship.
Mysteries
An explanation of the nature of Mysteries.
Myths
An explanation of the nature of Myths, and how they are to be interpreted.
Hubris & Aidos
An explanation of Hubris, a sin in Hellenism, and Aidos, humility.
The Delphic Maxims
The Delphic Maxims are a collection of 147 maxims that are understood to be delivered by the deity Apollo Himself to the Oracle at Delphi. The proverbs are said to have been written down by the Seven Sages, seven early-6th-century BCE philosophers, mystics, politicians, and law-givers who were later renowned for their wisdom.
Cultus & Pietas
An overview of Cultus & Piety, concepts which concern with giving the Gods their proper due and elevation of the soul towards the divine.
Platonic Solids
An overview of the Five Elements.
Sacrifice
An explanation of sacrifice and its purpose.
Personal Gnosis
An overview of Personal Gnosis, which is personal experience that an individual may have with the Gods.
Tutelary Deities
An overview of Tutelary Deities, a God or Greater Kind who plays the role of patron, guide, guard, or protector of a particular area, geographic feature, people, nation, person, lineage, or occupation.
Sacred kingship
On Emperor Julian’s concept of divine kingship.
