#proclus

“We attempt to look at the sun for the first time and when we are far away, at least, we succeed. But the closer we approach the less we see it. And at last we see neither [sun] nor other things, since we have completely become the light itself, instead of an enlightened eye.”

"These, therefore, being arranged according to triads, as we have said, of the demiurgic triad, indeed, Zeus is allotted the highest order, supernally from intellect governing souls and bodies, and as Socrates says, taking care of all things. But Poseidon here also gives completion to the middle of the demiurgic [triad], and especially governs the psychical order. For this God is the cause of motion, and of all generation. But soul is the first of generated natures, and is essentially motion. And Hephaestus inspires the nature of bodies, and fabricates all the mundane seats of the Gods. Again, of the guardian and immutable triad, the first indeed is Hestia, because she preserves the very being of things, and an undefiled essence. For Socrates in the Cratylus gives to her the highest order, as connectedly containing the summits of wholes. But Athena preserves middle lives inflexible, through intellection, and a self-energizing life, sustaining them from [the incursions of] matter. And Ares illuminates corporeal-formed natures with power, and an infrangible strength, as Socrates says in the Cratylus. Hence he is perfected by Athena, and participates of a more intellectual inspiration, as the poetry [of Orpheus] says, and of a life separate from generated natures. Moreover, of the vivific triad, Demeter is the chief, entirely generating all mundane life, viz. the intellectual, the psychical, and that which is inseparable from body. But Hera contains the middle of the triad, and imparts the generation of soul. For the intellectual goddess emits from herself all the progressions of the other psychical genera. And Artemis is allotted the end of the triad, moving all natural reasons into energy, and perfecting the imperfection of matter. Hence theologists, and Socrates in the Theætetus, call her Lochia, (or the power that presides over births) as being the inspective guardian of psychical progression and generation. Of the remaining triad, therefore, the anagogic, or elevating, Hermes indeed is the supplier of philosophy, and through this elevates souls, and by the dialectic powers, sends upward both total and partial souls to the good itself. But Aphrodite is the first-effective cause of the amatory inspiration which pervades through wholes, and familiarizes to the beautiful the lives that are elevated by her. And Apollo perfects and converts all things through music, convolving, as Socrates says [in the Cratylus], and through harmony and rhythm attracting to intellectual truth, and the light which is there."

proclus on interpreting mythology

“Hail, O Mother of the Gods, many-named, blessed with beautiful offspring. Hail, O Hekate Prothypaie, Megasthenes.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA