Frontmatter -- Contents -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- Chapter 1. How to Feed a Daemon: Third-Century Philosophers on Blood Sacrifice -- Chapter 2. Everything in Its Right Place: Spiritual Taxonomy in Third-Century Platonism -- Chapter 3. The Missing Link: Third-Century Platonists and "Gnostics" on Daemons and Other Spirits -- Chapter 4. High Priests of the Highest God: Third-Century Platonists as Ritual Experts -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index -- Acknowledgments
Summary
Spiritual Taxonomies and Ritual Authority recounts how philosophers of the late third century C.E. organized the spirit world into hierarchies, positioning themselves as high priests in the process. By establishing themselves as experts on sacred matters, they fortified their authority, prestige, and reputation
