Thomas Taylor on Dæmons

[sdi]

I got Thomas Taylor'd again, this time in a footnote to Proclus' Hymn to Helios:

According to the most accurate division of the dæmoniacal order, there are six species of dæmons, as we learn from the excellent Olympiodorus, in his Commentary on the Phædo of Plato. The first of these species is called divine, from subsisting according to the one, or that which is superessential in the mundane gods; the second is denominated intellectual, from subsisting according to the intellect of these gods; the third is rational, from subsisting according to the soul with which the mundane gods are connected; the fourth is natural, being characterized from the nature which depends on these gods; the fifth is corporeal, subsisting according to their bodies; and the sixth is material, subsisting according to the matter which depends on these divinities. Or, we may say, that some of these dæmons are celestial, others ætherial, and others ærial; that some are aquatic, others terrestrial, and others subterranean. Olympiodorus adds, that irrational dæmons commence from the ærial species; in proof of which he cites the following verse from some oracles, (most probably from the Zoroastrian oracles):

Being the charioteer of the ærial, terrestrial, and aquatic dogs.

For evil dæmons, as I have shown in my Dissertation on the Mysteries, appear in the shape of dogs. [...] I only add, that when irrational dæmons are said to be evil, this must not be understood as if they were essentially evil, but that they are noxious only from their employment; that is, from their either calling forth the vices of depraved souls that they may be punished and cured, or from their inflicting punishment alone; for, indeed, there is not any thing essentially evil in the universe; for as the cause of all is goodness itself, every thing subsisting from thence must be endued with the form of good; since it is not the property of fire to refrigerate, nor of light to give obscurity, nor of goodness to produce from itself any thing evil.

Oh dear, I'm going to need to put Olympiodorus on the reading list, too...

Comments

[sdi]

I found Olympiodorus' comment on page 325 of volume 4 of Taylor's Works of Plato. The above is the substance of it, but there is one thing more:

Our guardian dæmons, however, belong to that order of dæmons which is arranged under the Gods that preside over the ascent and descent of souls.

All of this agrees with the account of Proclus which I previously transcribed.

[boccaderlupo]

That's a keeper, there.