Author Archives: ancientworld

Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden in Dante’s Purgatory is somewhat different in the original compared to most English translations. In Dante’s Italian it becomes more of an expression of the transformed life, and the new experience of the Earthly with the … Continue reading

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The Blessings

“Fall to your knees, fall to your knees! Behold the angel of the Divine! And fold your hands. Expect to see more ministers like him.” After the Pilgrim has girded his waist with a soft reed, as a symbol of … Continue reading

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The Greek and Roman Epics, and the Personal Journey. w/Sean Eckmann.

A new conversation with Sean Eckmann from Mythos & Logos, where we’re looking at the role of emotion, passion, and the intervention of metaphorical Gods in the Ancient Epics of the Iliad, Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid. Sean’s youtube channel is … Continue reading

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Dante’s Inferno – Emotions and Rationality

A new series! We’ll look at the first book in Dante’s Divine Comedy, with brief overviews and highlights – and how this work is relevant for understanding and navigating the world better. In this episode we’ll look at the opening, … Continue reading

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Meeting Sordello, in Canto 6

In the slow anticipation of Ante-Purgatory, Virgil and the Pilgrim meet Sordello, an Italian poet and fellow Mantuan of Virgil. “But see that spirit stationed over there, all by himself, the one who looks at us; he will show us … Continue reading

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Focus, and Climbing the Mountain of Virtue

Here are the words from Virgil (as Reason) as they’ve started the climb, but the Pilgrim is too distracted by what the other souls might be whispering: “Keep up with me and let the people talk! Be like a solid … Continue reading

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Climbing the Mountain of Virtue

As the Pilgrim and Virgil pass through the tiny opening in the mountain wall of rocks, Virgil proclaims: “Now, do not change your course, keep climbing up the mountain, close to me, until we find a more experienced guide.” Suggesting … Continue reading

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Finding the start, of a Learning Process

After the Pilgrim has lost his sense of time while being absorbed in a conversation, he and Virgil have the tiny opening in the mountain rock wall pointed out them – symbolic of how hard it could be to find … Continue reading

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History and the Idea of Progress

A Thought of the Day: We’re currently reading through the third volume of John Strickland’s history epic “From Paradise to Utopia“, outlining a somewhat different perspective on the changes and forces shaping the centuries from the Italian Humanism towards the … Continue reading

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Language for the Sacred, and the ineffable Beyond.

Here’s an interesting phrasing of “that which lies beyond” rationality and science, and the linguistic grasp of the left hemisphere, with still a rational vocabulary: Without necessarily invoking “god” as a supernatural being, it seems fine to recognise an ineffable … Continue reading

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Review of the Renaissance, by James Willis

Thank you to James Willis for a poetic and beautiful review of our book! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58913447-the-renaissance Goodreads reviews for The Renaissance Reviews from Goodreads.com

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The theology of St. Aquinas (and Dante) – and Being

Excellent summary of some of the basics of the theology that underlies so much of St. Thomas Aquinas’ work – and in many ways the over-arching idea and representation of Divinity in Dante’s Divine Comedy. A crucial introduction for understanding … Continue reading

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The richness of the Tradition – and Mysticism

Happy to see Mark Vernon launching a new course based on his previous book – which outlines a broader canvas of history and theology in the old Tradition. The argument for reviving the mystics might also be largely congruent with … Continue reading

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The Sense of Time, and being lost in the Moment

In Purgatory 4 Dante comments on the nature of our sense of Time, which is partly related to the context of the Late Repentants – those who were distracted or started late on the Path to seeking deeper, and spiritual, … Continue reading

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A dawn

From the beach in Purgatory: Thus, where we were, Aurora’s lovely face with a vermilion flush on her white cheeks was aging in a glow of golden light.

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