Politeísmo, magia y teúrgia. La crítica de Prudencio al neoplatonismo de Juliano el Apóstata según Apoth. 449-502

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze Prudentius´ critique to Julian the Apostate´s neoplatonic system mainly through an allegorical scene contained within verses 449-502 of the Apotheosis, where a failed pagan ritual is described. Towards concluding that in the fourth century A.D. the conflict between pagans and christians motivated the breakup of the neoplatonic system into two parallel currents, the augustinian and the misterical one, we will focus on three points: (1) Some aspects of the general state of neoplatonic imperial thought with regards to certain historical, philosophical and social transformations within Paganism and Christianity, attending specially to the internal fractures of the former; (2) Prudentius´ argument for the metaphysical and moral insufficiency of Julian´s use of polytheistic symbolism, with the latter´s consequent counter-arguments and some examples of conflict and syncretism with regards to this question and (3) Prudentius´ argument for the impious and heretical condition of the components of theurgic activity, with the successive defense of an internal and not external mystical paradigm.