Among the fragmentary works of the Neoplatonist philosopher Porphyry of Tyre are some reasonably substantial remains of his essay on the interpretation of cult images, On Statues (Περὶ Ἀγαλμάτων). My study falls into two parts. Firstly, I assess the major source of our fragments, Eusebius of Caesarea’s Praeparatio Evangelica, and argue that the full text of On Statues would have looked quite different, and in particular much less Stoic, than the surviving fragments would suggest. Secondly, I turn to consider what these fragments tell us about Porphyry’s thoughts on the interpretation of images and the place of these thoughts in the wider history of viewing.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Porphyry of Tyre, Neoplatonism, Eusebius of Caesarea, cult images, history of viewing
Research Division:	Philosophy and Religious Studies
Research Group:	History and Philosophy of Specific Fields
Research Field:	History of Philosophy
Objective Division:	Cultural Understanding
Objective Group:	Understanding Past Societies
Objective Field:	Understanding Past Societies not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Miles, G (Dr Graeme Miles)
ID Code:	103226
Year Published:	2015
Deposited By:	Humanities
Deposited On:	2015-09-29
Last Modified:	2018-03-13
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