{"product_id":"restoring-the-ancient-religion-marios-koutsoukos-9783032096401","title":"Restoring the Ancient Religion: The Theurgic Orthopraxy of Iamblichus","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book reconsiders Iamblichus' \u003cem\u003eResponse to Porphyry\u003c\/em\u003e, Late Antiquity's seminal work on theurgy, which is often referred to as \u003cem\u003eDe Mysteriis\u003c\/em\u003e. Was this text intended to be more than just a defence of ritualism or a philosophical crossing of metaphysical wits between Porphyry and Iamblichus? This volume examines whether \u003cem\u003eDe Mysteriis\u003c\/em\u003e constituted a manifesto of restoration, a call to resignify and revive a religion that Iamblichus felt was spiralling into barren traditionalism. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrough a nuanced examination of Iamblichus' theurgy, this book shows the emergence of a sophisticated philosophico-ritualistic system, one designed to reform religious practice through divine epiphanies and direct communication with the gods. Using a thorough textual analysis, this book uncovers crucial distinctions between theurgy and magic and explores the mechanics of divine illumination during theurgic rituals in the context of Iamblichus' intricate hierarchy of spiritual beings. In this system, this book demonstrates, material objects could become vessels of divine power and humans could become interlocutors with the divine itself.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Marios Koutsoukos\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 3032096405\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9783032096401\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Palgrave MacMillan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/22\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 324\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.23lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.27h x 5.83w x 0.81d","brand":"Marios Koutsoukos","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48175768797439,"sku":"9783032096401","price":159.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_922dbd33-e22a-46aa-9078-8933cfc6d2d9.jpg?v=1771335785","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/restoring-the-ancient-religion-marios-koutsoukos-9783032096401","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}