Nicolò CANTONI
Demetrios PARASCHOS
Abstract. Thanks to the works of Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) in the Renaissance, the idea of an ancient theology of the Gentiles that foreshadowed Christianity spread throughout Europe. Yet, underlying the notion of prisca theologia there was not a single and unified doctrine, but diverse philosophical religious conceptions that can be traced back to different pagan cultures (such as Chaldea, Egypt, and Greece). More importantly, these traditions included a series of practices that the Western Church regarded with suspicion or openly
condemned, such as talismanic magic and theurgy.
As both a devoted priest and philosopher, Ficino found himself irresistibly drawn to these primordial prophets of Christianity and their magico-theurgical rituals. However, by treading the path laid out by figures like Zoroaster, Hermes, and Orpheus, he grappled with the challenge of reconciling ancient pagan practices with his Christian faith. As a result, his reinterpretation of Christian theurgy took on an increasingly eclectic character, incorporating elements from Jewish thought and possibly significant Eastern Orthodox theological concepts of his era. Our paper explores this fascinating tension at the heart of Ficino’s intellectual journey, an internal conflict that reveals the complex interplay between philosophical-theological speculations and pagan practices in early modern Christian Europe.
Keywords: Marsilio Ficino, Prisca Theologia, Renaissance Philosophy, Christianity, Theurgy, Magic, Epiclesis, Neoplatonism, Orphic Hymns