Select works of Porphyry : Containing his four books on abstinence from animal food; his treatise on the Homeric cave of the nymphs; and his Auxiliaries to the perception of intelligible natures. With an appendix, explaining the allegory of the wandering of Ulysses

Porphyry, a pivotal figure in the ancient revival of Platonic thought, bridges the rigor of philosophy with the everyday concerns of his time. A devoted student of Plotinus, he helped preserve and spread the master’s teachings, while carving his own path through ethics, mythology, and metaphysics. His writings are celebrated for their clarity and breadth, offering a window into a world where the divine and the practical intertwine. Listeners will hear the reverence of a mind that sees philosophy as a living guide rather than a distant abstraction.

The collection begins with four treatises on abstinence from animal food, where Porphyry argues that a plant‑based diet aligns the soul with higher virtues and natural harmony. A fascinating essay then explores the Homeric “cave of the nymphs,” interpreting the myth as a symbolic journey toward inner illumination. Complementing these are his “Auxiliaries to the Perception of Intelligible Natures,” concise guides designed to sharpen the intellect’s grasp of Platonic ideals. An appended discourse unpacks the allegory of Ulysses’s wanderings, revealing how ancient storytelling encodes philosophical lessons.