at KASBAH GARDEN CAFE'
105 Howe Street New Haven, CT 06511

This is the 5th in a series of symposia which began in May, 2001.

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The Neo-Platonists in the Renaissance

Ficino's Commentary on Plato's Symposium of Love
Julianne Davidow
Author: "Outer Beauty, Inner Joy: Contemplating the Soul of the Renaissance"
http://www.juliannedavidow.com/

In fifteenth century Florence, Marsilio Ficino and the Platonic Academy continued in the
footsteps of the ancient Platonists. Their work initiated what is now called Renaissance
Platonism or Neoplatonism, and had widespread effects on literature, painting, and
music, as well as on the development of mathematics and science.

This talk begins by giving an overview of the climate of Italy during the Renaissance,
the re-emergence of Classical philosophers, and the growth of Humanism. It will then
discuss the new philosophies forged from the Platonic and Hermetic traditions.

Finally, we look at some passages from Ficino's book:
Commentary on Plato's Symposium on Love,
and see how it influenced other love treatises and the
subject matter of some paintings by Italian Renaissance artists.

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Near Eastern Wisdom & sources of the Divine SOPHIA
Kathleen Damiani, PhD.
http://sophiaandthedragon.com/
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Egypt: The Spiritual Transformation of the Universe:
Ptah, Osiris, Isis, & Horus
Magda M. Mraz
Artwork: http://azothgallery.com/
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Geometry Lessons from the Great Library Knowledge,
myth and transformation in ancient Alexandria.
Steve Bass, A.I.A., I.C.A.

The writers and teachers of the great library of Hellenistic Alexandria created patterns and images
in the subject of Geometry that set the tone for philosophers and designers for the next two millenniums.
In this presentation architect Steve Bass will begin to peel back the Aristotlean surface from the work of
some of the Library's outstanding geometers such as Euclid, Ptolemy, and Eratosthenes to reveal the
neo-Platonic cosmological geomerties that informed their mathematical imaginations. Examples will
include: mythic roots of Euclidean lucidity; how the Pythagorean Tetracktys was morphed into the
Tree of the Kabbalah; how the radius of the earth was measured with only a stick; and how
Ptolemy's instructions for mapmaking led to the Renaissance rediscovery of perspective drawing.

Steve Bass is an Instructor at the Institute for Classical Architecture, NYC.

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ADMISSION FREE: PLEASE PATRONIZE THE CAFE'

MAP TO THE FORUM

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This is the 5th in a series of symposia which began in May, 2001:
Gnosis in the Western esoteric tradition
PART ONE -- Saturday & Sunday, May 26-27, 2001
"SOPHIA IN THE HERMETIC SCIENCES"
PART TWO -- Saturday & Sunday, November 3 -4, 2001
"THE METAPHYSICAL HISTORY OF TIME"

"Ancient Forum 2004": Sunday June 20, 2004
ANCIENT SCIENCE, ART, ARCHITECTURE, and LANGUAGE

Alchemist's Brunch -- Sunday, December 2, 2007
Philosophy Mythology Science

METAPHYSICS IN SCIENCE, POETRY, & ART 2014
A Philosophical Forum - lectures on video & audio
Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27, 2014

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Topics for the next discussion (open)

Open-Mike Readings:
The Metaphysical Poets, The Romantics, 20th Century Poets

Original Poetry & Short-Story Readings invited

The Novel : Discussion on any Historical Novel, LITERARY or ART MOVEMENT

The History of Science : Astronomy, Metallurgy, Alchemy

Mythologies East & West

The Greek Philosophers : Geometry, The Atomists & Epicureans

Musical Harmonies : Planets & Particles

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DIRECTIONS to the KASBAH GARDEN CAFÉ

Via Train to New Haven : Please email azothgallery@comcast to arrange pickup.

VIA INTERSTATE-95

From I-95 North or South, use EXIT 47, to DOWNTOWN NEW HAVEN,
Access Highway (Route 34) .
<From north via I-91 , also use DOWNTOWN NEW HAVEN, Access Highway (Route 34).>

Follow Downtown Access to last exit – EXIT 3 Frontage Road.
At Third Traffic Light, TURN RIGHT onto HOWE STREET.
Past 4th Traffic Light (Edgewood Avenue), find parking on street.
PARKING METERS are NOT IN USE on Sundays.
Kasbah Garden Café is at # 105 Howe, on right,
enter through wide alley, next to Casablanca Boutique.

VIA MERRITT PARKWAY I-15 from New York.

Use West Side Highway to Sprain/ Cross County Parkway exit.
Continue toward Connecticut, BEAR LEFT at all highway forks.

This becomes the Merritt Parkway towards north-east.

In Connecticut, use EXIT 57 Route 34 to NEW HAVEN,
Continue South-east on Route 34 several miles through Orange & West Haven,
past car dealerships, and the YALE BOWL stadiums.

At E.T. Grasso Boulevard continue straight (do not follow Route 34 turn-off),

this becomes George Street, and soon one-way south.

Past St. Raphael Hospital on left, past Dwight Street,
take next LEFT at traffic light onto HOWE STREET.
Past 3rd Traffic Light (Edgewood Avenue), find parking on street.
PARKING METERS are NOT IN USE on Sundays.
Kasbah Garden Café is at # 105 Howe, on right,
enter through wide alley, next to Casablanca Boutique.