Pergamum school

philosophy

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July 23, 2026

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The "Pergamum school" refers to a branch of Neoplatonism founded in Pergamum, Asia Minor, by Aedesius, a student of Iamblichus. This school, along with others like it, sought to revive ancient Greek mystery religions. While Neoplatonism itself was a complex philosophy that developed from Plato's ideas, incorporating elements of Aristotelian and Stoic thought, the Pergamum school focused on theurgy, a practice involving rites and rituals to connect with the divine. This philosophical movement was prominent in the 4th century CE, particularly during Emperor Julian's attempt to revive paganism. The schools of Neoplatonism, including the one in Pergamum, continued until pagan philosophy was suppressed in the 6th century CE.123

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Eusebius of Myndus
…a pupil of Aedesius of Pergamum. He was distinguished from the other members of the Pergamene school by his comparative sobriety and rationality and by his contempt for the religious magic, or theurgy, to which other members of the school were addicted. He was too sober for the future emperor…
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…a pupil of Aedesius of Pergamum. He was distinguished from the other members of the Pergamene school by his comparative sobriety and rationality and by his contempt for the religious magic, or theurgy, to which other members of the school were addicted. He was too sober for the future emperor…
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Platonism
The later Neoplatonists
The school of Pergamum, founded by Aedesius, a pupil of Iamblichus, made perhaps the least contribution to the philosophical development of Neoplatonism, but it was not entirely given over to theurgy. Its greatest convert was the emperor Julian, called by Christians the “Apostate”; in that capacity he achieved…
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The school of Pergamum, founded by Aedesius, a pupil of Iamblichus, made perhaps the least contribution to the philosophical development of Neoplatonism, but it was not entirely given over to theurgy. Its greatest convert was the emperor Julian, called by Christians the “Apostate”; in that capacity he achieved…
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Aedesius
Aedesius founded the so-called Pergamum school of philosophy, whose major concerns were theurgy (the magic practiced by some Neoplatonists who believed miracles could be worked by the intervention of divine and beneficent spirits) and the revival of polytheism. He was the pupil of Iamblichus and the teacher of Maximus,…
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Aedesius founded the so-called Pergamum school of philosophy, whose major concerns were theurgy (the magic practiced by some Neoplatonists who believed miracles could be worked by the intervention of divine and beneficent spirits) and the revival of polytheism. He was the pupil of Iamblichus and the teacher of Maximus,…
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