The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 2 of 2) : $b translated from the Greek, to which a seventh book is added, in order to supply the deficiency of another book on this subject, which was written by Proclus, but since lost, also, a translation from the Greek of Proclus' Elements of theology, to which are added a translation of the treatise of Proclus, On providence and fate, a translation of extracts from his treatise, entitled, Ten doubts concerning p — Plato — John Shaqi
The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 2 of 2) : $b translated from the Greek, to which a seventh book is added, in order to supply the deficiency of another book on this subject, which was written by Proclus, but since lost, also, a translation from the Greek of Proclus' Elements of theology, to which are added a translation of the treatise of Proclus, On providence and fate, a translation of extracts from his treatise, entitled, Ten doubts concerning p
Plato · en
the orders of angels and demons that follow these powers are still more
numerous, and are circularly allotted the whole earth, and dance round
its one divinity, its one intellect, and one soul.
CHAPTER XXIII.
It remains in the next place, that we should survey how the earth is
said to be the most ancient, and the first of the Gods within the
heavens. For this will be taken literally by those who are accustomed
to look only to its material, gross and dark bulk. But we indeed grant
them that there is something of such a kind in the bulk of the earth
as they say there is; but we think it proper that they should likewise
look to the other goods of the earth, through which it surpasses the
prerogatives of the other elements, viz. its stability, its generative
power, its concord with the heavens, and its position in the centre of
the universe. For the centre has great power in the universe, as being
connective of every circulation. Hence also the Pythagoreans call the
centre the tower of Jupiter, in consequence of containing in itself a
demiurgic guard. We shall likewise remind our opponents of the Platonic
hypothesis concerning the earth, mentioned by Socrates in the Phædo,
where he says that the place of our abode is hollow and dark, and
bound by the sea; but that there is another true earth, containing the
receptacles of the Gods, and possessing a beauty resembling that of the
heavens. We ought not, therefore, to wonder if now the earth is said to
be the most ancient and the first of the Gods within the heavens, since
she possesses so great an altitude, and such a surpassing beauty, and
as Socrates afterwards says, was fashioned by the Demiurgus resembling
a sphere covered with twelve skins, just as the heaven is similar to a
dodecahedron. We must likewise understand that the Demiurgus gave to
the earth alone among the elements to have all the elements separately,
causing her to be wholly a world, variegated analogous to the heavens.
For she contains a river of fire, of air, and of water, and of another
earth, which has the same relation to her which she has to the
universe, as Socrates says in the Phædo. But if this be the case, she
very much transcends the other elements as imitating the heavens, and
possessing every thing in herself terrestrially, which is celestially
contained in the heavens.