Synesius of Cyrene

Synesius of Cyrene

 

Born between 370 and 375 A.D.; died circa 415 A.D. Greek orator, philosopher, and poet.

Synesius was chosen bishop in 410. In his speech On Royalty and in his Egyptian Recital, or On Divine Providence he set forth the political ideal of a philosopher-king. His hymns combine neoplatonic motifs and Christian themes. Several of Synesius’s speeches have been preserved.

PUBLICATIONS

Synesii Cvrenensis Hymni et opuscula, vols. 1–2. Editor, N. Terzaghi. Rome. 1939–44.
Epistolographi graeci. Editor, R. Hercher. Paris, 1875. Pages 638–739.
In Russian translation:
In Pamiatniki vizantiiskoiliteratury IV-IX vv. Moscow, 1968.

REFERENCE

Levchenko, M. V. “Sinezii v (Constantinople i ego rech’ ‘O tsarstve.’” Uch.zap. LGU, 1951, no. 130, issue 18.

Synesius of Cyrene

(dreams)

Synesius of Cyrene was a fifth-century Greek convert to Christianity who eventually became a bishop of the Church. He wrote a relatively short work, On Dreams, that was perhaps the best book of its kind to be written by one of the church fathers. Synesius had a high opinion of dreams, reputedly even receiving editorial assistance during sleep.

Synesius believed that dreams were capable of lifting the human spirit to the higher spheres, there to acquire a deeper understanding of cosmic mysteries as well as spiritual upliftment. Synesius even encouraged using dreams for divination, although he warned against relying on dream dictionaries because each human being is unique. Finally, well in advance of his time, Synesius recommended keeping a dream diary, which he referred to as a “night book.”