The Pantheist Index

Greek and Roman: Pantheists of the "classical" age.

Up to: Philosophers, Artists, Writers and Scientists

• Heraclitus (around 500 BCE) (1) The first consistent materialist pantheist who sought for a common principle underlying the various forms of matter.

• Hypatia of Alexandria (c.375-415) (0) The first notable female astronomer and mathematician who became head of the neo-platonist school in Alexandria. Identified as pagan by the Christians, she was murdered by a mob, considered by many to have been incited to riot by Cyril, archbishop of Alexandria.

• Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180) (3) Stoic, Emperor of Rome and author of the "Meditations", who saw the Universe as "one living being, having one substance and soul".

• Plotinus (c205 - 270) (3) Neo-Platonist philosopher and Pantheist of the world-rejecting type whose thoughts are preserved in "The Enneads".

• Zeno of Cittium (334 - 262 BCE) (2) Founder of Stoicism, the first major movement of Pantheism in the West.

• The Greek Materialists: Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes These philosophers all tried to address the central issue of the underlying "stuff" of the Universe, believing it was physical rather than mental or spiritual.