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Tunes of harmony (1)

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05 Scientific knowledge and scholarly lore




05 Scientific knowledge and scholarly lore


Keywords
gods
music
Period
4th century CE
Roman Empire
Channel
Helleno-Roman philosophers and scholars


Text
Iamblichus, De Mysteriis 3.9.119:
What we would rather say, then, is this: that those things such as sounds and tunes are properly consecrated to each of the gods, and kinship is properly assigned to them in accord with their proper orders and powers, the motions in the universe itself and the harmonious sounds rushing from its motions. It is, then, in virtue of such connections of the tunes with the gods that their presence occurs (for nothing intervenes to stop them) so that whatever has a fortuitous likeness with them, immediately participates in them, and a total possession and filling with superior being and power takes place at once. It is not that the body and soul interact with one another or with the tones, but since the inspiration of the gods is not separated from the divine harmony, having been allied with it from the beginning, it is shared by it in suitable measures. Each of them enjoys wakefulness and repose, each singly, according to the order of the gods. But this is never to be called a purging, purification, or cure; for it does not grow in us primarily on account of any disease, superabundance, or excess, but its whole origin from above and descent below is divine.


Source (list of abbreviations)
Iamblichus, De Mysteriis 3.9.119

Bibliography

Clarke, Dillon and Hershell 2003, 139-141Clarke, Emma C., John M. Dillon and Jackson P. Hershbell. Iamblichus, De Mysteriis. Translated with an Introduction and Notes. Writings from the Graeco-Roman World 4. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature 2003.

Amar Annus


URL for this entry: http://www.aakkl.helsinki.fi/melammu/database/gen_html/a0001134.php


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