The Secret Texts of Hellenic Polytheism: A Practical Guide to the Restored Pagan Religion of George Gemistos Plethon

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Only sixteen chapters of Plethon's Book of Laws survive, and for the first time ever, they have been translated into English in their entirety. George Gemistos, who called himself Plethon, helped to trigger the Renaissance by reawakening an interest in Platonism. After his death, his Christian enemies discovered and burned his secret book on Platonic Pagan theology. These pages are what survived. Through translations and commentary by John Opsopaus PhD, you can immerse yourself in this philosopher's complete system of Neopagan theology and religious practice focused on the Hellenic pantheon and deeply rooted in ancient Greek Paganism. Enrich your own practice with detailed instructions from the Book of Laws on conducting these religious ceremonies. This impressive guide features rituals, prayers, invocations, and hymns for holiday and daily use along with Plethon s complete sacred calendar.

Reviews

"John Opsopaus has reached into the fire and retrieved Plethon's work for us to study. Moreover, he does so with a deep knowledge of the Pagan philosophy of the Hellenistic world, explaining Plethon's ideas and framing them understandably for us to use. Plethon is a vital link in the Golden Chain of philosophers who preserved the knowledge of the gods. John Opsopaus has spent many years bringing theurgy back into living practice. This book is a collaboration between them, bringing Plethon's wisdom alive and returning to us one of the great teachers in our Pagan heritage."--Brandy Williams, author of Practical Magic for Beginners

"The Secret Texts of Hellenic Polytheism sheds much needed light on the life and works of an enigmatic figure who, almost single handedly, sought to stem the tide of cultural change and preserve a spiritual tradition that was in danger of disappearing forever. Dr. Opsopaus skillfully connects the fragments that survived into a living tapestry and a workable system that allows us to better understand, apply, and benefit from Plethon's noble life-work."--Hercules Invictus, host of Mount Olympus podcast

"Unlike the Florentine Neoplatonists Ficino and Pico, who remained Catholic no matter how wide they cast their syncretistic net, Plethon, who influenced them, was a Neoplatonic pagan. John Opsopaus does him justice by presenting him as such. Opsopaus's book is also perhaps the clearest and most lucid guide to Plethon's vision of reality: from the ineffable ONE (Zeus) down to 'matter'. As a work of solid historical scholarship and as a guide to contemporary pagan practice, I recommend it most warmly."--Jay Bregman, emeritus professor of history/religious studies at the University of Maine

Author Bio

JOHN OPSOPAUS, PhD, (Tennessee) has practiced magic since the 1960s and his writing has been published in various magical and Neopagan magazines. He frequently presents workshops on Hellenic magic, Neopaganism, Pythagorean theurgy, and spiritual practices. He is also a university professor with more than twenty-five years of experience reading ancient Greek and Latin.