Eugene Afonasin
Biographic Data
| ID | 6871190 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Eugene Afonasin |
| GIVEN NAMES | Eugene |
| FAMILY NAME | Afonasin |
| SIGNATURE | AFONASIN E |
| AFFILIATIONS | Novosibirsk State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0623-0574 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Philo of Alexandria on the eternity of the world (De aeternitate mundi, 20–73)
In the treatise ‘On the Eternity of the World’, translated below, Philo appears not only as a key figure in the history of the interpretation of the biblical books, but also as a crucial witness to the development of Platonism in the first century BCE. This philosophic work of the Alexandrian exegete can be subdivided into two unequal parts. In an introductory part (sec. 1-19) Philo speaks for the most part on his own behalf, making comparison be…
Judeo-Christian eschatology and late antique mystery praxis
Eschatological ideas began to play a significant role in the ancient religious tradition relatively late. This can be shown by the example of the mystery cults of Isis, Mithras and Cybele, as well as their adaptation and evaluation in early Christian authors, Neoplatonism and Gnosticism. This analysis brings us closer to clarifying the relationship of Judeo-Christian mysticism to pagan mystery practices. We can see how each cult easily finds idea…
Philo of Alexandria and the Pythagorean texts of the Hellenistic period
Clement of Alexandria twice refers to Philo as a ‘Pythagorean.’ Obviously, this is how the early Christian writer imagined the Jewish exegete, famous for his allegorical interpretations of the Old Testament, characterized by numerical symbolism. However, the fascination with allegories is more likely to remind the reader of Stoicism, while the love of numerical speculation alone does not make a person a Pythagorean, for by the time of Clement all…
Philo of Alexandria on the eternity of the world (De aeternitate mundi, 1–19)
Philo remains not only a key figure in the history of the interpretation of the biblical books, but also a crucial witness to the development of Platonism in the first century BCE. It is in this capacity that he appears in the treatise ‘On the Eternity of the World’ translated below, which can be divided into two unequal parts: the introductory part (sec. 1-19), in which Philo speaks for the most part on his own behalf, and the doxographic part (…
Teaching and preaching in the Derveni papyrus
According to a number of ancient authors, including the recently discovered treatise by Galen, “On my own opinions,” Protagoras suggested doubting everything that concerns the gods and their essence. Remarkably, Philostratus (Lives of the Sophists 1.10.2) sees the source of this doubt in Protagoras’ “Persian education” because, in his opinion, the Persian magi, while continuing to call on the gods in their secret rituals, would not admit it publi…
Hermeticism and Kabbalah. On the historical connection between Hermetic and Jewish mysticism
Hermes of Pico della Mirandola has nothing in common with the hero of the treatise Asclepius and the texts of the Hermetic Corpus. Pico's gaze is directed deep into the medieval Jewish and, eventually, Arabic tradition. More precisely, through the cabbalistic works, for the first time available to the bright representative of the Italian Renaissance, there came to life the fruits of another Renaissance, the Spanish Renaissance of Alfonso X de Cas…
Orphica Ii. The Hieronyman Theogony
The Orphic “theogony of Hieronymus and Hellanicus” is known thanks to Athenagoras (2nd century) and Damascius (6th century) and our informants approach the text of the theogony in very different ways. Athenagoras reads it literally, thus seeking to show all the immorality of Orphicism, whereas Damascus, in typical Neoplatonic fashion, understands it allegorically and uses it to illustrate his own theological position. We do not know who Hieronymu…
The “Orphic” Gold Tablets
The gold tablets of the Classical and Hellenistic periods from burials in Italy and Greece are published in Russian translation and accompanied by a commentary. The text is a supplement to the previous article
“Another Earth”. The Orphic motif of celestial travel in ancient philosophy
The motif of the journey is characteristic of Orphicism. Orpheus' journey on the Argo and his descending to Hades, the travel of souls to the afterlife and their celestial journey before their subsequent incarnation. These ideas are vividly represented in the Orphic hymns, the Orphic golden tablets and, perhaps most vividly, in Plato's myths in Phaedo, Phaedrus, Gorgias and the State. In trhe paper I consider these myths in the context of ancient…
Orphica I
The paper is concentrated on the Derveni papyrus. According to the cosmology of the papyrus Zeus recreated the world anew. The meaning of this self-contained process may indicate the poet's desire to reflect the cyclicity of time, manifested in the alternation of the one and the many. Besides, this model may be related to the famous Orphic idea of the cyclic life of the soul. It is also possible that we are facing the first example of the cosmolo…
“People in Dark Times”
The Neoplatonic philosophers developed a complicated and quite ingenious concept of the grades of virtue, starting with such common human virtues, as the natural, ethical and political, and finishing which those attainable only by the real seekers of the highest truth, such as the purificatory, contemplative, paradigmatic, and hieratic. In the paper I trace the evolution of the Neoplatonic grades of virtue by means of the select passages from Dam…
The Egyptian Hermes”
The tendency to historicity is an important tendency in the modern history of philosophy. Hence a question: to which extend the treatises of Hermetic corpus seem to us historical, and properly connected with Egypt? Is it possible, taking into account the universal and mystical character of these texts, nevertheless to identify in them some elements, which would allow us to understand Hermeticism in the context of Hellenistic Egypt proper, and not…
Greek Mystery Cults. Part I
In this article we first, using the example of Eleusis, briefly examine the question of the origin of ancient mystery practices, and we also touch upon the problem of the evolution of Greek religious beliefs from Archaic times to the Classical period. Often the presence or absence of an extraordinary experience is regarded as a criterion which allows to classify a specific ancient cult as a “mystery” cult. Another criterion, of course, is the clo…
Philosophy and Religious Politics in Damascius’ “Philosophical History”
In the paper, I consider some aspects of religious politics in late antiquity on the basis of select fragments from Damascius’ “Philosophical History,” translated into Russian for the first time. I also observe that the archeological finds, often better than the biased literary evidences, show both the different strategies of interaction between the adherents of pagan cults and official Christianity in late antiquity and, more importantly, the no…
Damascius in Alexandria (1). Selected fragments of his “Philosophical History”
In the paper, I trace the evolution of the Neoplatonic school in Alexandria on the basis of select fragments from Damascius’ “Philosophical History,” translated into Russian for the first time. The fragments concern the Alexandrian intellectual scene of the first part of the fifth century. Damascius vividly presents the major philosophical figures of this period, such as Hierocles, Hermeias and his son Ammonius as well as such peculiar personalit…
Antiphon. Fragments and Testimonia
Antiphon (c. 480–411 BCE) was famous in antiquity for his forensic speeches as well as more theoretical works, such as The Truth and On concord. He is also credited with the invention of logography as a profession. The majority of his heritage is now lost. The present publication contains a collection of scant doxographic evidence about Antiphon’s life and writings. The evidences are based on A. Lask and G. Most’ Early Greek Philosophy (2016)
Moses Attikidzon
The "biblical origin" of the basic ideas of Hellenic philosophy. This idea, perhaps strange to the modern reader, was almost universally accepted in the first centuries of CE and goes back at least to Aristobulus and Philo of Alexandria. Lately this concept, very useful indeed in justifying philosophy and the legitimacy of its inclusion in the Judeo-Christian worldview, became quite widespread. Clement (the first Christian author to refer openly …
Damascius in Alexandria (2). Selected fragments of his “Philosophical History”
In the paper, I trace the evolution of the Neoplatonic school in Alexandria on the basis of select fragments from Damascius’ “Philosophical History,” translated into Russian for the first time. The fragments concern the Alexandrian intellectual scene of the second part of the fifth century (fragments 72–96 Athanassiadi). Damascius vividly presents the major philosophical figures of this period, such as Heraiscus, Asclepiades, Asclepiodoti (Senior…
Theophrastus on Wind
Wind as a natural phenomenon as well as the peculiarities of specific winds, such as Boreas, Notos, Eurus, and Zephyrus and their influences on navigation, agriculture and, in general, human live are among the subjects, extensively treated by the Peripatetics. Winds are studied in Aristotle’s Meteorology (1.13, 2.4 sq.), Book 26 of the Problems, the Peripatetic On signs and On the position and Names of the Wind, in an epitome of a meteorological …
Gorgias of Leontini. Fragments and Testimonies
Gorgias (483–375 BCE), a famous Ancient Greek philosopher and orator. According to ancient testimonies he was praised for his eloquence and published numerous literary works, but very little is preserved. The present publication contains a collection of scant doxographic evidence about Gorgias’ life and writings and a translation of two his extant speeches The Encomium on Helen and the Apologia of Palamedes. The evidences are based on A. Laks and…
Protagoras of Abdera. Fragments and Testimonies
Protagoras of Abdera (c. 490–c. 420 BCE), a Greek philosopher, famous for his invention of sophistry as a profession. According to ancient testimonies he published some literary works, but nothing is preserved. The present publication contains a collection of scant doxographic evidence about Protagoras’ life and writings. The evidences are based on A. Lask and G. Most’ Early Greek Philosophy (2016)
Heraclides of Pontus on poets and musicians
Heraclides of Pontus (c. 388–310 BCE), a Platonic philosopher, worked in various literary genres and wrote on such topics as psychology, politics, literature, history, geography, astronomy and the philosophy of nature. Nothing is preserved. The present publication contains a collection of the testimonies about Heraclides’ varied writings, dedicated to Greek cultural history, including literary and religious studies, and, in some details, musical …
Heraclides of Pontus on pleasure
Heraclides of Pontus (c. 388–310 BCE), a Platonic philosopher, worked in various literary genres. He discussed such typical Platonic topics as the transmigration of the soul, composed philosophical lives, dialogues or treaties about politics, literature, history, geography, etc., and wrote a series of works on astronomy and the philosophy of nature. Nothing is preserved. The present publication contains a collection of scant doxographic testimoni…
An Outline of the History of Archaeology
In this lecture, one can find an abbreviated historical trajectory of the appearance and development of archaeology as a science. The aim is to demonstrate the perceptions and biases, which have influenced and still influence the archaeological theory and practice in negative or positive ways. The lecture was prepared for the participants of the program on “Classics and Philosophy” of Novosibirsk State University (October 2018)
Iamblichus and the Foundations of Late Platonism
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Iamblichus and the Foundations of Late Platonism
An Outline of the History of Archaeology
In this lecture, one can find an abbreviated historical trajectory of the appearance and development of archaeology as a science. The aim is to demonstrate the perceptions and biases, which have influenced and still influence the archaeological theory and practice in negative or positive ways. The lecture was prepared for the participants of the program on “Classics and Philosophy” of Novosibirsk State University (October 2018)
Theophrastus on Wind
Wind as a natural phenomenon as well as the peculiarities of specific winds, such as Boreas, Notos, Eurus, and Zephyrus and their influences on navigation, agriculture and, in general, human live are among the subjects, extensively treated by the Peripatetics. Winds are studied in Aristotle’s Meteorology (1.13, 2.4 sq.), Book 26 of the Problems, the Peripatetic On signs and On the position and Names of the Wind, in an epitome of a meteorological …
Gorgias of Leontini. Fragments and Testimonies
Gorgias (483–375 BCE), a famous Ancient Greek philosopher and orator. According to ancient testimonies he was praised for his eloquence and published numerous literary works, but very little is preserved. The present publication contains a collection of scant doxographic evidence about Gorgias’ life and writings and a translation of two his extant speeches The Encomium on Helen and the Apologia of Palamedes. The evidences are based on A. Laks and…
Protagoras of Abdera. Fragments and Testimonies
Protagoras of Abdera (c. 490–c. 420 BCE), a Greek philosopher, famous for his invention of sophistry as a profession. According to ancient testimonies he published some literary works, but nothing is preserved. The present publication contains a collection of scant doxographic evidence about Protagoras’ life and writings. The evidences are based on A. Lask and G. Most’ Early Greek Philosophy (2016)
Heraclides of Pontus on poets and musicians
Heraclides of Pontus (c. 388–310 BCE), a Platonic philosopher, worked in various literary genres and wrote on such topics as psychology, politics, literature, history, geography, astronomy and the philosophy of nature. Nothing is preserved. The present publication contains a collection of the testimonies about Heraclides’ varied writings, dedicated to Greek cultural history, including literary and religious studies, and, in some details, musical …
Heraclides of Pontus on pleasure
Heraclides of Pontus (c. 388–310 BCE), a Platonic philosopher, worked in various literary genres. He discussed such typical Platonic topics as the transmigration of the soul, composed philosophical lives, dialogues or treaties about politics, literature, history, geography, etc., and wrote a series of works on astronomy and the philosophy of nature. Nothing is preserved. The present publication contains a collection of scant doxographic testimoni…
Damascius in Alexandria (1). Selected fragments of his “Philosophical History”
In the paper, I trace the evolution of the Neoplatonic school in Alexandria on the basis of select fragments from Damascius’ “Philosophical History,” translated into Russian for the first time. The fragments concern the Alexandrian intellectual scene of the first part of the fifth century. Damascius vividly presents the major philosophical figures of this period, such as Hierocles, Hermeias and his son Ammonius as well as such peculiar personalit…
Antiphon. Fragments and Testimonia
Antiphon (c. 480–411 BCE) was famous in antiquity for his forensic speeches as well as more theoretical works, such as The Truth and On concord. He is also credited with the invention of logography as a profession. The majority of his heritage is now lost. The present publication contains a collection of scant doxographic evidence about Antiphon’s life and writings. The evidences are based on A. Lask and G. Most’ Early Greek Philosophy (2016)
Moses Attikidzon
The "biblical origin" of the basic ideas of Hellenic philosophy. This idea, perhaps strange to the modern reader, was almost universally accepted in the first centuries of CE and goes back at least to Aristobulus and Philo of Alexandria. Lately this concept, very useful indeed in justifying philosophy and the legitimacy of its inclusion in the Judeo-Christian worldview, became quite widespread. Clement (the first Christian author to refer openly …
Damascius in Alexandria (2). Selected fragments of his “Philosophical History”
In the paper, I trace the evolution of the Neoplatonic school in Alexandria on the basis of select fragments from Damascius’ “Philosophical History,” translated into Russian for the first time. The fragments concern the Alexandrian intellectual scene of the second part of the fifth century (fragments 72–96 Athanassiadi). Damascius vividly presents the major philosophical figures of this period, such as Heraiscus, Asclepiades, Asclepiodoti (Senior…
Greek Mystery Cults. Part I
In this article we first, using the example of Eleusis, briefly examine the question of the origin of ancient mystery practices, and we also touch upon the problem of the evolution of Greek religious beliefs from Archaic times to the Classical period. Often the presence or absence of an extraordinary experience is regarded as a criterion which allows to classify a specific ancient cult as a “mystery” cult. Another criterion, of course, is the clo…
Philosophy and Religious Politics in Damascius’ “Philosophical History”
In the paper, I consider some aspects of religious politics in late antiquity on the basis of select fragments from Damascius’ “Philosophical History,” translated into Russian for the first time. I also observe that the archeological finds, often better than the biased literary evidences, show both the different strategies of interaction between the adherents of pagan cults and official Christianity in late antiquity and, more importantly, the no…
The “Orphic” Gold Tablets
The gold tablets of the Classical and Hellenistic periods from burials in Italy and Greece are published in Russian translation and accompanied by a commentary. The text is a supplement to the previous article
“Another Earth”. The Orphic motif of celestial travel in ancient philosophy
The motif of the journey is characteristic of Orphicism. Orpheus' journey on the Argo and his descending to Hades, the travel of souls to the afterlife and their celestial journey before their subsequent incarnation. These ideas are vividly represented in the Orphic hymns, the Orphic golden tablets and, perhaps most vividly, in Plato's myths in Phaedo, Phaedrus, Gorgias and the State. In trhe paper I consider these myths in the context of ancient…
Orphica I
The paper is concentrated on the Derveni papyrus. According to the cosmology of the papyrus Zeus recreated the world anew. The meaning of this self-contained process may indicate the poet's desire to reflect the cyclicity of time, manifested in the alternation of the one and the many. Besides, this model may be related to the famous Orphic idea of the cyclic life of the soul. It is also possible that we are facing the first example of the cosmolo…
“People in Dark Times”
The Neoplatonic philosophers developed a complicated and quite ingenious concept of the grades of virtue, starting with such common human virtues, as the natural, ethical and political, and finishing which those attainable only by the real seekers of the highest truth, such as the purificatory, contemplative, paradigmatic, and hieratic. In the paper I trace the evolution of the Neoplatonic grades of virtue by means of the select passages from Dam…
The Egyptian Hermes”
The tendency to historicity is an important tendency in the modern history of philosophy. Hence a question: to which extend the treatises of Hermetic corpus seem to us historical, and properly connected with Egypt? Is it possible, taking into account the universal and mystical character of these texts, nevertheless to identify in them some elements, which would allow us to understand Hermeticism in the context of Hellenistic Egypt proper, and not…
Teaching and preaching in the Derveni papyrus
According to a number of ancient authors, including the recently discovered treatise by Galen, “On my own opinions,” Protagoras suggested doubting everything that concerns the gods and their essence. Remarkably, Philostratus (Lives of the Sophists 1.10.2) sees the source of this doubt in Protagoras’ “Persian education” because, in his opinion, the Persian magi, while continuing to call on the gods in their secret rituals, would not admit it publi…
Hermeticism and Kabbalah. On the historical connection between Hermetic and Jewish mysticism
Hermes of Pico della Mirandola has nothing in common with the hero of the treatise Asclepius and the texts of the Hermetic Corpus. Pico's gaze is directed deep into the medieval Jewish and, eventually, Arabic tradition. More precisely, through the cabbalistic works, for the first time available to the bright representative of the Italian Renaissance, there came to life the fruits of another Renaissance, the Spanish Renaissance of Alfonso X de Cas…
Orphica Ii. The Hieronyman Theogony
The Orphic “theogony of Hieronymus and Hellanicus” is known thanks to Athenagoras (2nd century) and Damascius (6th century) and our informants approach the text of the theogony in very different ways. Athenagoras reads it literally, thus seeking to show all the immorality of Orphicism, whereas Damascus, in typical Neoplatonic fashion, understands it allegorically and uses it to illustrate his own theological position. We do not know who Hieronymu…
Judeo-Christian eschatology and late antique mystery praxis
Eschatological ideas began to play a significant role in the ancient religious tradition relatively late. This can be shown by the example of the mystery cults of Isis, Mithras and Cybele, as well as their adaptation and evaluation in early Christian authors, Neoplatonism and Gnosticism. This analysis brings us closer to clarifying the relationship of Judeo-Christian mysticism to pagan mystery practices. We can see how each cult easily finds idea…
Philo of Alexandria and the Pythagorean texts of the Hellenistic period
Clement of Alexandria twice refers to Philo as a ‘Pythagorean.’ Obviously, this is how the early Christian writer imagined the Jewish exegete, famous for his allegorical interpretations of the Old Testament, characterized by numerical symbolism. However, the fascination with allegories is more likely to remind the reader of Stoicism, while the love of numerical speculation alone does not make a person a Pythagorean, for by the time of Clement all…
Philo of Alexandria on the eternity of the world (De aeternitate mundi, 1–19)
Philo remains not only a key figure in the history of the interpretation of the biblical books, but also a crucial witness to the development of Platonism in the first century BCE. It is in this capacity that he appears in the treatise ‘On the Eternity of the World’ translated below, which can be divided into two unequal parts: the introductory part (sec. 1-19), in which Philo speaks for the most part on his own behalf, and the doxographic part (…
Philo of Alexandria on the eternity of the world (De aeternitate mundi, 20–73)
In the treatise ‘On the Eternity of the World’, translated below, Philo appears not only as a key figure in the history of the interpretation of the biblical books, but also as a crucial witness to the development of Platonism in the first century BCE. This philosophic work of the Alexandrian exegete can be subdivided into two unequal parts. In an introductory part (sec. 1-19) Philo speaks for the most part on his own behalf, making comparison be…
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