Synesius Hypatia shared with the divine interest in Pythagorean mysticism of numbers is very clear sky, as well as already mentioned above, for these words in his short treatise -indeed, a long epistle entitled A Paionios on the gift : "And that astronomy is itself a very worthy and perhaps science could serve ascent to something even more venerable: I think the next step and the ineffable theology. " Precisely in that treaty quotes a beautiful poem of Ptolemy, which the prince of astronomers confesses
"I know I am mortal and ephemeral, but when the stars / investigated the continuous circular revolutions, / no longer play with my feet the earth, but next to own / Zeus I satiate of ambrosia, food of the gods " (IX Anthology 577)
(I was thinking how different the current scientific paradigm, in which poets and astronomers are rarely much less mystical ... And it's not for lack of colossal conceptions, eg the Big Bang - and lofty visions-v. g. nebulae and galaxies referred to the magical eye of the telescope-)
Friend both weapons and hunting, as of horses and books, Sinesio lived in Alexandria for three or four years (393-395 ) in who was a diligent student of Hypatia. On your next stay in Alexandria in 403, married a Christian nobility, and will be the Archbishop Theophilus who marry them. Have three children with her, two of them twins, who tragically die one after another and before him in less than ten years. Interestingly, already Bishop of such deaths is comforted by reading the Bible but not Epictetus (letter 126). In the year 410 when, killed the metropolitan of the Ptolemais, the people and clergy hailed as a successor in the episcopate. Flatly refuses at first, and then agree not without putting a number of conditions, among which is the conservation of both his wife and their Platonic convictions on the preexistence of the soul and immortality, not resurrection, as well as eternity of the universe. Read excerpts from the letter 105, conducted in the summer of 410 to his brother Evoptio:
"To me, it was indeed God, the law and the sacred hand of Theophilus who gave me my wife. I declare, therefore, publicly and to all borne witness that I detach myself from it all and not secretly lived with her as an adulterer (which one is not pious and the other is not legal), but my desire and my prayer will be many and good kids. "
"It is difficult, if not quite impossible, shake the doctrines that have become scientifically proven and you also know that many times, the philosophy of plane crashes against these other doctrines reported. Sure I never argue the belief that the origin of the soul is after the body. Do not admit that the cosmos and its parts awaits joint destruction. The much hyped resurrection consider sacred, ineffable and far away I agree with the opinion of the masses. "
"If I call this sacred ministry, I resign myself to hold a mock doctrines of it as God is my witness as well as men."
was christened after its election as bishop, although he was a Christian when he attended Hypatia's classes. Just some of the Hymns who wrote at that time reflect his Gnostic, heterodox conception some of the Christian dogmas as the Trinity, and mystical visions of astronomy. Thus begins the anthem 5 :
"Again the light of dawn again, again the day shines upon the darkness noctívaga. Sing it again, my heart, in early morning hymns to God, who gave birth to the dawn, which gave the night stars, chorus that dances around the universe. "
And describes the Trinity:
"The only source, the only root in the form shines a light triple: for there the abyss of the Father, the Son glorious there, the birth of the heart, traditional skills of the universe, and the glow of Santa Expiration unit shines. "
Note that the Holy Spirit a feminine name it: Hagia Pnoiâs : Santa Exhalation Exhalation or . We will have occasion to discuss these surprising and unorthodox theological views.
Platonic ideas, and tastes very worldly, Bishop married Sinesio never ceases to amaze with his esoteric interests. Returning home after a visit to Alexandria in 405, wrote a treatise "inspired by God himself"-his words-titled On Dreams, which then sends Hypatia to give approval. It defends the human capacity for divination and foretelling the future, based on the interpretation of dreams he learned of the Platonic philosophy. Along with this agreement sends another teacher, also for monitoring, entitled Dion, or their standard of living . It named as the most holy and wise men of Ammon, Zoroaster, San Antonio (the hermit) and Hermes. He also cites the Hermetic writings and the Chaldean Oracles , in other works, and certainly are present in the images used in Hymns.
An intriguing episode is the desperate plea that the letter 15 to your teacher makes you Hypatia to manufacture a "hydroscope", saying literally: "Fortune is so unfavorable that I need a hydroscope. " Against those who argue that it is an instrument only be used for chemical experiments, Dzielska, supported by an astrological work of the period, in which Thebes Hephaestion hydroscope states that can be used for divination and the preparation of horoscopes, argues: "Sinesio dominated by despair, abandoned by his immediate family, seeks solace and release into the hydromancy. Please consult the gods of water over his future. " (DZIELSKA 2006:91)
To this is added the curious fact that one of the first treatises on alchemy known Hellenistic Synesius is assigned, it is the letter entitled Synesius philosopher Dioscorus , notes the book of Democritus . As Dzielska says, "is not surprising that this disciple of Hypatia (and perhaps Theon), engaged in the interpretation of dreams, astrology and physical experiments, become recognized as one of the foremost experts in the secrets of alchemy. " (DZIELSKA 2006:91-92)
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