Iamblichus' De Mysteriis

Emma C. Clarke, Latymer School, London, UK

• Contents: Introduction: They say that miracles are past...; Iamblichus’ De Mysteriis as an answer to Porphyry’s Epistle to Anebo: man of answers v man of questions; The De Mysteriis: a manifesto of the miraculous; Ritual: the miracle of sacrifice; Ritual: the truth about oracles; Inspiration or possession; The epiphanies; Conclusion: a farewell to philosophy; Bibliography; Index.

'In this meticulous study of the De Mysteriis Emma Clarke argues convincingly that Iamblichean theurgy cannot - and should not - be explained as an intellectual enterprise: theurgy was not a calculus of abstractions but a discipline of not-knowing that initiated its adepts into miraculous encounters with the gods. For those interested in theurgic states of ecstasy and possession, Clarke's lucidly written book will be required reading.' Gregory Shaw, Stonehill College, USA 'Emma C. Clarke has written an important and deceptively provocative book... [a] fine book... Clarke forces us to confront our own limitations in trying to reenter the thought world of someone like Iamblichus.' Ancient Philosophy