On Symbols and Symbolism in Porphyry’s Treatise On Statues (Peri agalmatōn)

Occupation: research fellow at Russian Christian Academy for the Humanities
Affiliation:
Russian Christian Academy for the Humanities
St Petersburg State University, Institute of Philosophy
Address: Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

Journal name

Voprosy filosofii

Edition

Issue 10

Pages

164-174

Abstract

Porphyry’s treatise titled On statues (also known as On images and Peri agalmatōn) survived in nine fragments without an ending. This is one of the reasons why it is less known and poorly studied, compared to other writings of Porphyry. On statues interprets verbal and visual descriptions of ancient Greek deities in a manner similar to the interpretations in On the Cave of the Nymphs, the other work of Porphyry. Both treatises are distinguished by an unusually frequent usage of the term ‘symbol,’ thus introducing a certain type of symbolism. In the ‘symbolical’ interpretations of deities’ names, Porphyry extensively uses anagrams and phonetic likenesses, following Plato’s Cratylus. He combines this approach with the method of Stoic allegory and engages the ancient Greek mythology, thus the most of Porphyry’s symbols are based on the centuries-old tradition. Porphyry fuses Stoic and Platonic concepts into an integral system, which is distinctively revealed in his linguistic views, the nature of names and the principles of naming. The analysis of the treatise displays the high coherence of the survived fragments, thus allowing to assert the original Porphyry’s text as well-retained.

Keywords

Porphyry of Tyre, On statues, Peri agalmatōn, symbol, myth, mythology, spermatic logos

Acknowledgment

The research was carried out at Russian Christian Academy for the Humanities (St Petersburg) with the financial support of Russian Science Foundation, project 17-78-10061.

Publication date

23.11.2018

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GOST	Kurdybaylo D. On Symbols and Symbolism in Porphyry’s Treatise On Statues (Peri agalmatōn) // Voprosy filosofii – 2018. – Issue 10 C. 164-174 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/vphil/s207987840000444-7-1-en (circulation date: 05.11.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S004287440001158-8
MLA	Kurdybaylo, Dmitry S. "On Symbols and Symbolism in Porphyry’s Treatise On Statues (Peri agalmatōn)." Voprosy filosofii 10 (2018):164-174. DOI: 10.31857/S004287440001158-8
APA	Kurdybaylo D. (2018). On Symbols and Symbolism in Porphyry’s Treatise On Statues (Peri agalmatōn). Voprosy filosofii (10), pp.164-174 DOI: 10.31857/S004287440001158-8

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