Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

Earl Fontainelle
  • 4.8 (49)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

Exploring the forgotten and rejected story of Western thought

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    One Empire, Many Names: Reading “Byzantium” with Anthony Kaldellis

    We are delighted to speak with Anthony Kaldellis about ‘Byzantium’, fabled empire full of Greek-speaking Romans which never fell until the fifteenth century, and which plays an outsize role in the history of western esotericism. Come for the historiographical debates about the term ‘Byzantine’, stay for the ‘Byzantine’ court astrology.

    1h 22m

  2. 16 OCT

    Contested Esotericisms at the End of Antiquity: Simplicius, Philoponus, and Olympiodorus

    We discuss three of the most important thinkers from the final generations of philosophical teaching at Alexandria. One is an upstart Christian. Two are esoteric Platonists of the Golden Chain. One may or may not have been an alchemist.

    1 hr

  3. 18 SEPT

    The Last Platonists? Philosophic Teaching, Christianity, and Polytheism in Late-Antique Alexandria

    We discuss how Platonist philosophical teaching played out at Alexandria before Justinian's edict of 529 and in its aftermath. Featuring cameo appearances from the fall of the western Roman empire and Horapollo's Hieroglyphika.

    43 min

  4. 11 SEPT

    All from Nothing: Sara Rappe on Damascius

    We discuss the great Damascius, final scholarch of the Athenian Academy, with Sara Rappe. Things become very apophatic.

    51 min

  5. 28 AUG

    Hagia Sophia and the Problem of ‘Esoteric Architecture’

    We discuss Justinian's great church, Hagia Sophia, the gem of Constantinople and of Orthodox Christianity. We then look at a number of theories out there which read Hagia Sophia as encoding esoteric messages beneath her Orthodox exterior, and use this case-study as a springboard for discussing the thorny problems involved in interpreting architecture, especially esoteric architecture.

    1h 4m

  6. 30 JUL

    Kevin van Bladel on the Ṣābians of Ḥarrān and the Fate of the Athenian Academy

    We discuss the fascinating town of Ḥarrān (in present-day Türkiye), a place known from late antiquity until at least the eleventh century for its continued tradition of astral, polytheist worship. Kevin van Bladel tells us much to enthral us about this place, but also crushes the dream of a continued tradition of Athenian Late Platonism at Ḥarrān.

    55 min

  7. 24 JUL

    Edward Watts on the Age of Justinian and the Closing of the Athenian Academy

    We discuss the life, times, and reign of Justinian, ‘probably the most consequential Roman emperor, at least since Constantine, and maybe since Augustus.’ He transformed the empire; nothing would be the same after his reign. Said reign also saw the closure of the Athenian academy and a number of crucial crises within Christianity, all of which are essential for the history of western esotericism.

    1h 10m

  8. 29 MAY

    Danielle Layne on Proclus’ Religious Life and Thought

    We are delighted to discuss what you might call Proclean spirituality with Danielle Layne. Platonic prayer as a way of living, the erotic quest for the Good, and the ever-elusive Platonic Dyad feature in a wide-ranging conversation combining proper philosophical-historical rigour with the true love of wisdom.

    52 min
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Exploring the forgotten and rejected story of Western thought

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