Proclus (412–485)

Proclus(412–485)

Proclus was born in Constantinople into a Lycean family that was still faithful to the old Hellenic religion in a society already dominated by Christianity. The talented young man forsook a career as a lawyer and decided to devote his life entirely to philosophy. After studies in Alexandria, he arrived in 431 in Athens where he joined the Platonic school of Syrianus. After the death of his venerated master, he became the leader of this school and remained in that position for almost fifty years until his death in 485. As we know from his biographer Marinus, his whole life was devoted to teaching and writing. Proclus was also a deeply devout person. In the community of the school he continued to practice with his disciples the rituals of the old Hellenic religion as well as the theurgical rituals of the Chaldeans. For Proclus, Plato was more than a philosopher intent upon the search for the truth; he was also a divinely inspired prophet showing the soul a way of salvation. Reading Plato had become more than just a scholarly exercise—it was a religious activity of paramount importance.

Proclus was convinced that the truth had been revealed by the gods in many different ways, in obscure oracles, myths and symbols.

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