Porphyry of Tyre on Theology and Theurgy: Oracular Voices and Luminous Intellect

Fabien Muller (Tampere University)

The late-ancient Mediterranean world was shaped by three competing yet mutually formative dynamics: the spread of Christianity, the proliferation of the cults known as Mysteries, and the systematization of Neoplatonic philosophy. Porphyry of Tyre, one of late antiquity's most important philosophers, sought to negotiate the tensions between these dynamics. Arguing that philosophical thinking about the gods—“theology”—and ritual interaction with them—“theurgy”—are mutually compatible, Porphyry maintained that one can participate in ceremonial practices all while remaining committed to Neoplatonist metaphysics. In doing so, he worked to hold together intellectual and religious traditions that were increasingly at risk of fragmentation. Porphyry’s Letter to Anebo and Philosophy from Oracles—newly translated as part of the CSWR’s 4T initiative—are his most significant contributions to these debates. This release event situates these texts within the broader religious and philosophical landscape of late antiquity, explores the questions and provisional answers of the time, and highlights Porphyry’s pivotal role in shaping the conversation.