Proklos

   Neoplatonist (q.v.) philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer, who taught at the Academy of Athens (q.v.). For Proklos (unlike Porphyry [q.v.]), Plotinos's (q.v.) philosophy became a way of self-knowledge that used theurgy and mathematics to unite the soul with the divine. He died in 485, but his subsequent influence was enormous. Despite the hostility of John Philoponos, Pseudo-Dionysios the Areopagite (qq.v.) incorporated his ideas into Christian theology (q.v.). In the 11th century, interest in him was revived by Michael Psellos, John Italos, Eustratios of Nicaea, and Michael of Ephesus (qq.v.). Thereafter, interest in his work, if only for the purpose of refutation, never flagged in Byzantium (q.v.).