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    Chapter There’s Always the Sun

    Metaphysics and Antiquarianism in Macrobius

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    Author(s)
    Van Nuffelen, Peter
    Contributor(s)
    Hömke, Nicola (editor)
    Franco Chiai, Gian (editor)
    Jenik, Antonia (editor)
    Collection
    European Research Council (ERC); EU collection
    Language
    German; English
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    Abstract
    The present paper asks how Macrobius thinks his extensive allegories of statues of the gods and other elements of traditional religion are possible. He can be shown to espouse a Neoplatonic theory of images. This entails that truthful images are only possible of the Soul and the lower levels of the world, whereas the two highest hypostases cannot be grasped by language and man-made images. Even so, as the sun is an image of the highest principle, Macrobius’ reduction of all deities to the sun can be understood as a discourse on the highest deity, albeit obliquely. How are images, then, truthful? He defends a common theory of inspiration, according to which the creators of images participate in the Logos when creating them. Philosophy is seen as the primordial discipline, containing the knowledge necessary to create and interpret images. These conclusions allow us to pinpoint more precisely the differences between Middle and Neoplatonism.
    Book
    Bilder von dem Einen Gott: Die Rhetorik des Bildes in monotheistischen Gottesdarstellungen der Spätantike
    URI
    http://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/23684
    Keywords
    Monotheism; image rhetoric; late antiquity
    DOI
    10.1515/9783110517569-006
    ISBN
    9783110516739; 9783110517040
    OCN
    1135844914
    Publisher
    De Gruyter
    Publisher website
    https://www.degruyter.com/
    Publication date and place
    Berlin/Boston, 2016
    Grantor
    • FP7 Ideas: European Research Council - 313153 - MEPIHLA Research grant informationFind all documents
    Classification
    Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval
    Ancient history
    Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy
    Rights
    All rights reserved
    • Imported or submitted locally

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    License

    • If not noted otherwise all contents are available under Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

    Credits

    • logo EU
    • This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 683680, 810640, 871069 and 964352.

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