In this episode we reflect on the whole amazing journey with podcasting this first year through the Greek Myth and Philosophy, the Biblical Stories, and the great Renewal and Rebirth of beauty and widsom in the Florentine Renaissance.



And as in painting and arts with the Mannerism Period, there might be something to the thought that not much could be added to the foundations of philosophy and theology after they in some ways had been brought to full fruition with Dante and Thomas Aquinas.



One possible theme for the third season, starting in January, is therefore to look at the first few centuries AD, and go on a little treasure hunt for inspiring thinking and poetic beauty in this period!



And as always,



wishing you a very Merry Christmas



and a Happy New Year!! :))

In this episode we'll have a brief look at the biography of St. Paul by NT. Wright, a discussion regarding Mythos and Logos among the early Church Founders - and examples of the two brain hemispheres' different worlds, from "The Master and his Emissary".



Paul Biography:




"Master and his Emissary":


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In this episode we'll discuss and have a few brief excerpts from five great books that are highly recommended for Christmas - and as food for thought!

The books are:

Iain McGilChrist, "The Master and his Emissary"

Robert Alter, "Genesis. Translation and Commentary"

Mark Vernon, "A Secret History of Christianity"

Mattheu Pageau, "The Language of Creation. Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis"

Tom Holland, "Dominion"

And if you buy them from the links above, you'll also support the Ancient World Podcast with 5% of the price - at no cost to you!

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Dante reaches the end of the Journey, and is granted the Final Vision.

In the next last canto in the Paradise, St. Bernard is going through the main figures and souls of the amphitheater of the Divine Rose, both from the Old and New Testament, as well as the concepts of predestination and how the whole movement of the Comedy was initiated by Mary, Lucy and Beatrice - to save the suffering and lost soul of Dante in a Dark Forest, which is the opening tercet of the first Canto in Inferno.

In this episode there's another transition where Beatrice has finished the task of guiding the Pilgrim through the whole Paradise, and healing his soul, and then the mystic contemplative of St. Bernard of Clairvaux appears in the center of the Rose. Bernard will now complete the final task of the Journey - and we are looking towards to the brightest light on the top of the Rose, that of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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In this episode we have reached the final destination in Dante's quest for knowledge and understanding of the Divine Essence! The Pilgrim is welcomed by being tightly enveloped in pure light and love, and gradually receives a deeper and deeper symbolic vision, as he absorbs more and more of the Divine Grace. 

In this episode we learn more about the Angels from Beatrice - where they were made, when, and thoughts about their true nature! We also get a long stream of attacks on human nature, false preachers, and the corruption of the church, once again. The whole canto is in some ways a transitional canto, where the opening motif of the sun and the moon in perfect balance at the horizons, before one takes over the skies - creates the anticipation of the final destination of the Empyrean only a few tercets away.

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In this episode the Pilgrim looks deep into the eyes of Beatrice (symbolic of Divine Knowledge and Theology), and sees the reflection of a light which one also would see, if one looks deep into the source of the "motion" of the Primo Mobile. He then sees the Beatific Vision with the source of Light in the center, and nine circles of Angelical Beings representing in some ways spiritual forces from messengers, to sovereign territory powers, to divine powers, to concepts like streams of knowledge and pure Love.

In this episode we have another big transition from the Fixed Stars and the last of the Blessed Souls, to the origin of time and the Sphere that sets everything into motion. There are no planets or constellations here - and it is directly contained in the Divine Mind of light and love.

Beatrice, as symbol of theology and spiritual wisdom, talks about the faulty nature of the human species, but that guidence and divine light will come back on Earth one day, and set the "fleet" on the right sailing course, once again.

Thanks for listening,