
audiobook
by Iamblichus
IAMBLICHUS’ LIFE OF PYTHAGORAS, OR PYTHAGORIC LIFE.
INTRODUCTION.
THE LIFE, &c. - CHAP. I.
FRAGMENTS OF THE ETHICAL WRITINGS OF CERTAIN PYTHAGOREANS.
FROM HIPPODAMUS, THE THURIAN, IN HIS TREATISE ON FELICITY.
FROM EURYPHAMUS, IN HIS TREATISE CONCERNING HUMAN LIFE.
FROM HIPPARCHUS, IN HIS TREATISE ON TRANQUILLITY.
FROM ARCHYTAS, IN HIS TREATISE CONCERNING THE GOOD AND HAPPY MAN.
FROM THEAGES, IN HIS TREATISE ON THE VIRTUES.
FROM METOPUS, IN HIS TREATISE CONCERNING VIRTUE.
This translation brings together Iamblichus’ classic biography of Pythagoras and a rare collection of ethical fragments from early Pythagoreans, preserved in the Doric dialect. The author frames the life of the mystic mathematician as a guide for those who seek wisdom beyond ordinary concerns, emphasizing his role as a founder of philosophical thought. Readers are offered a glimpse of the teacher’s teachings, his communal practices, and the reverence that later philosophers, especially Plato’s followers, attached to his legacy.
The introduction, written in a scholarly yet accessible tone, situates Iamblichus within the Neoplatonic tradition and explains why his accounts are still considered reliable by modern critics. It also references the broader network of Iamblichus’ own disciples, hinting at the vibrant community that surrounded the Pythagorean school. Listeners will appreciate the blend of historical narrative and philosophical reflection, making the work a valuable listening experience for anyone interested in ancient thought.
Full title
Iamblichus' Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life Accompanied by Fragments of the Ethical Writings of certain Pythagoreans in the Doric dialect; and a collection of Pythagoric Sentences from Stobaeus and others, which are omitted by Gale in his Opuscula Mythologica, and have not been noticed by any editor Accompanied by Fragments of the Ethical Writings of certain Pythagoreans in the Doric dialect; and a collection of Pythagoric Sentences from Stobaeus and others, which are omitted by Gale in his Opuscula Mythologica, and have not been noticed by any editor
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (471K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by MFR, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
Sep 26, 2020
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

A major Neoplatonic thinker from late antiquity, he helped shape the mystical and philosophical traditions that followed Plato for centuries. His surviving works, especially on Pythagoras and theurgy, still draw readers interested in the spiritual side of ancient philosophy.
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