Historian of Philosophy – Historiographer-Theologian (BA, MA, PhD)
He was born in Volos, Greece, in 1969. He has studied History and Archaeology in the School of Philosophy at the University of Ioanninaand graduated with a degree Very Good (equivalent to a 2.1 Honors Degree) in 1991. With a scholarship from the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (I.K.Y.) in the field of Byzantine and Neohellenic Philosophy he followed postgraduate studies at the Theological School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki(First and Second Semester 1994-95, Third and Fourth Semester 1995-96). He received a master’s degree in the field of Systematic Theology, with honors in 1996. From 1996 to 2001 he wrote a doctoral thesis entitled “The Dialectic of Spiritual Ascent according to Plotinus.”
He is a member of theGreek Philosophical Society, the Working Group for the study of Byzantine Philosophy in Greece (from its foundation in 1995) and the International Society for Philosophers (ISFP). He has participated in philosophy conferences, such as the Symposiumon the work of the pioneer of the study of Byzantine Philosophy, Basil Tatakis, in Andros 2008 and in the Event-Discussion “The thought of Aristotle in the Byzantine literature” of the “Institute for Humanities and Culture Nicos Svoronos” of European Public Law Organization (EPLO) as part of the celebrations for the Year of Aristotle, at Athens, in 2 November 2016. Since the 1990s he was an associate of the Research Centre for Greek Philosophy of the Academy of Athens, especially of its first director, student of B. Tatakis, the legendary scholar Linos Benakis – husband of the former Minister of Justice and Culture, Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, Anna Psarouda-Benaki– who was supervisor-advisor of I.K.Y.
His research interests include Neo-Platonism, Byzantine Philosophy, Theology, Philosophy of History, History of Scientific Ideas, Anthropology, Historiography, Comparative Literature, etc. He has authored – edited, translated, and participated in – sixteen books and over 90 publications in peer-reviewed international scientific journals and other publications, such as Greek Philosophical Review, Philotheos, European Journal of Science and Theology, Social Sciences Tribune, Historica, Theology, Philosophein, Synaxis, Deucalion, Interlitteraria, etc.
Among other things, he has discovered and proved the non-accidental homonymy of the first principle of Neo-Platonism, the One,“το hen”, το ἕν, that is the God or the Good, with the word “En” () of the ancient Chaldeans and Babylonians since in their cuneiform writing it means the Lord or the Priest, and it is used as the first part of many compound words for their gods, such as En-Lil (Lord of the Storm), En-Ki (deity of crafts, mischief, water, intelligence and creation) etc. (This research has been published in the Journal of HellenicReligion6 (2012-2013) 55-76 of Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in Greek and in the Philosophia E-Journal of Philosophy and Culture14 (2016) 171-189 of Sofia University in English).
From 2011 to 2017 he was a regular contributor and scientific associate of the Greek monthly journal Historica Themata (Historical Themes) and from 2013 to 2017 he was a contributor to the Military History, a monthly magazine on the Greek and world military history.
PUBLICATIONS
Books
– A Strange Hope for the World. Research into the Life of Jesus Christ, K. & M. Stamouli Publications, Thessaloniki 2023, pp. 172 [Under Publication].
– Chaldeans-Indoaryans-Assassins. Cradles of Gods, Men, and Disaster, Per Aspera Ad Astra Publications, Volos 2017, pp. 128, ISBN : 978-618-82749-3-8.
– History of the Monuments of Nea Anchialos and Interpretation of their Early Christian Symbols, Per Aspera Ad Astra Publications, Volos 2016, pp. 240, 5 Images and 13 Drawings, ISBN : 978-618-82749-1-4.
– The Metaphysics of Detective Novel, Per Aspera Ad Astra Publications, Volos 2016, pp. 110, ISBN : 978-618-82749-2-1.
– History of the Decipherment of Maya Writing, Per Aspera Ad Astra Publications, Volos 2016, pp. 280, 58 Images, ISBN : 978-618-82749-0-7.
Articles and studies
– “Michel Foucault: Towards a Structural History”, Greek Philosophical Review, vol. 11, no. 33, September 1994, 199-211 (in Greek).
– “Freedom and Power of Language according to the Apothatism of Dionysius the Areopagite”, Eleusis, no. 5, September 1994, 15-17 (in Greek).
– “Teleology of Evil in the World”, Eleusis, no. 18, Winter 1997, 24-26 (in Greek).
– “History as Re-activation of Present”, Eleusis, no. 23, Spring 2000, 36-39 (in Greek).
– “Life as a Game of gods (Plotinus, Enn., ΙΙΙ.2.15)”, Greek Philosophical Review, vol. 20, no. 58, January 2003, 5-15 (in Greek).
– “The Consideration of the World as an Ensouled Living Being (Plotinus)”, PHILOTHEOS. International Journal for Philosophy and Theology, vol. 4, 2004, 237-248 (in English).
– “The Concept of Unbounded and Evil Matter in Plotinus and John Damascenus”,THEANDROS. An Online Journal of Orthodox Christian Theology and Philosophy, volume 2, number 3, Spring/Summer 2005 (in English).
– “Mysticism and Rational Spirituality – When Theology meets Philosophy in Byzantium”, European Journal of Science and Theology, vol. 1, No. 3, September 2005, 5-9 (in English).
– “The Pair Movement-Rest in Plotinus and Maximus the Confessor”, THEANDROS. An Online Journal of Orthodox Christian Theology and Philosophy, volume 3, number 2, Winter 2005/2006 (in English).
– “Pyrasus and the two Phthiotic Thebes in Thessaly untill the Middle Ages”, Anistoriton, Journal of History, Archaeology and History of Art, vol. 6, n. 21, 2006 (ISSN: 1108 – 4081) (in Greek).
-« L’expérience de l’instant métaphysique: La contribution de Plotin au problème “temps et éternité” », PHILOTHEOS. International Journal for Philosophy and Theology, vol. 6, 2006, 131-143 (in French).
– “The Philosophical Understanding of History as Revival in Present and through Inner Experience”, Greek Philosophical Review, vol. 24, issue 71, May 2007, 123-135 (in Greek).
– “Rational Spirituality and the Possibility of Common Participation in the Mystical Experience of Plotinus”, Social Science Tribune, University of Thessaly, vol. 13, Issue 51, Spring 2008, 207- 227 (in Greek, with an abstract in English).
– “The Hegelianism of V. N. Tatakis”, paper announced at the Symposium “Vasilis Tatakis”, Andros Island 19-21 September 2008.
– “Principles and Characteristics of George Gemistos Plethon’s Philosophy”, PHILOTHEOS. International Journal for Philosophy and Theology, vol. 9, 2009, 183-190 (in English).
– “The Occult Knowledge of Michael Psellus”, Historica. JournalofHistoricalStudies, vol. 26, issue 50, June 2009, 157-184 (Abstract in English).
– “The Vertical Dynamics of the Ideas of Particulars and the Theory of Truth according to Plotinus”, SIGNUM. National Technical University of Athens. School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Science. Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law (accepted – forthcoming).
– “Plotinus’ Fundamental Worldviews in Comparison with the Magic-religious Thought”, Ethnologhia Online. An Annual Scholarly Electronic Journal bytheGreek Society for Ethnology, vol. 1, June 2010, 1-19 (ISSN: 1792 – 9628) (in Greek with a summary in French).
– “The Letter M. in Karagatsis’ Pen Name as a Symbol of Poeticalness and Alterity“, Diapolitismos. Electronic Journal for Literature (30.11.2010) (Abstract in English).
– “Early Christian Symbolism in Phthiotic Thebes”, THEOLOGIA. Quarterly publication of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, vol. 82, issue 1, January – March 2011, 19-46 (in Greek).
– “Utopian “States” of the First Christian Centuries”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 102, May 2011, 64-81 (in Greek).
– “George Gemistos Plethon. His life and work”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 109, December 2011, 24-37 (in Greek).
– “Early Christian Symbolism in Phthiotic Thebes”, Othrys. Society for Antiquities of Almyros, period B’, issue 15, Almyros 2011, 99-124 (in Greek).
– “Metaphysics of Symbolism”, PHILOSOPHEIN. Periodical Edition of Philosophical Contemplation, issue 5, January 2012, 9-25 (in Greek with an abstract in English).
– “The Myth of Hermes Trismegistus. Hermeticism in the Renaissance”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 128, July 2013, 11-23 (in Greek).
-“Leonardo Da Vinci’s Notebooks. From Neo-Platonism to Physicalism”, PHILOTHEOS. International Journal for Philosophy and Theology, vol. 13 (2013) 176-188 (in Greek).
– “Indology and Indo-Europeans”, Indika Online, Athens 12/2013 (in Greek).
– “MAKRINITSA 1878. The Culmination of the Revolution in Thessaly”, Military History. Monthly Magazine on the Greek and World Military History, Issue 203, December 2013, 90-101 (ISSN: 1109 – 0510) (in Greek).
– “Comparison between Plotinus’ Providence and Hindu Dharma”, Indika Online, Athens 13/1/2014 (in Greek).
– “Basil Tatakis. The Initiator of the Study of Byzantine Philosophy”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 136, March 2014, 86-99 (in Greek).
– “THE SPANISH CONQUEST OF THE MAYA KINGDOMS. The Subjugation of Central America”, Military History. Monthly Magazine on the Greek and World Military History, issue 210, July 2014, 36-47 (ISSN: 1109 – 0510) (in Greek).
– “Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Domination of Platonic Interpretation”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 145, December 2014, 84-99 (in Greek).
– “VASCO DA GAMA. The Circumnavigation of Africa and the Expansion of Portugal into India (1497-1524)”, Military History. Monthly Magazine on the Greek and World Military History, issue 220, May 2015, 70-81 (in Greek).
– “Cynic Philosophers. The Radical Deniers of Social Conventions”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 151, June 2015, 98-111 (in Greek).
– “The Decipherment of Cuneiform Writing. Henry Rawlinson and the Inscription of Behistun”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 155, October 2015, 24-35 (in Greek).
– “The Concept of the Simulacrum with Examples from Science Fiction”, Frear. The depth of the circumstances, issue 12/13, October 2015, 565-574 (ISSN: 2241-5742) (in Greek).
– “Theodore Metochites. An Encyclopaedist of Late Byzantium”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 162, May 2016, 84-97 (in Greek).
– “Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Art of War. The Birth of Modern Military Thought”, Military History. Monthly Magazine on the Greek and World Military History, issue 232, May 2016, 68-79 (in Greek).
– “The Placement of Lucian’s Novel True History in the Genre of Science Fiction”, Interlitteraria 21/1, Belletristic Translation: a Means of Cultural-Spiritual Dialogue or a Tool of Acculturation? – Miscellanea, University of Tartu Press, Tartu 2016, 158-172 (in English).
– “Neo-Platonism. The Last Splendor of Ancient Greek Philosophy”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 167, October 2016, 10-23.
– “The Lusiads by Luís de Camões. The Neoplatonic Influences on the Portuguese National Epic”, Diapolitismos. Electronic Journal for Literature (22.10.2016) 1-17 (in Greek).
– “The General Concepts and the Conciliation of Plato with Aristotle in Byzantium in Contrast to the West”, in: Event-Discussion “The thought of Aristotle in the Byzantine literature”, “Institute for Humanities and Culture Nicos Svoronos”, European Public Law Organization (EPLO) as part of the celebrations for the Year of Aristotle at: Athens, Plaka across from the Roman Agora (Dioskoúrōn and Poikilis square) – November 2, 2016.
– “MARCUS AURELIUS Warrior, Philosopher, Emperor (121-180 AD)”, Military History. Monthly Magazine on the Greek and World Military History, issue 241, February 2017, 80-88 (in Greek).
– “EPICURUS. A Charismatic Philosopher of the Hellenistic Era”, HISTORICA THEMATA, issue 173, April 2017, 10-23.
– “The Concept and Practices of the Sacred in Maya”, Ethnologhia On-Line. An Annual Scholarly Electronic Journal by the Greek Society for Ethnology, Vol. 8 (July 2017) 1-23.
– “THE STOICS: To Live according to Reason and Nature”, PHILOSOPHICAL PUBLICATIONS 2017, 1-14.
– Jeremias II Tranos, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch (1536-1595), The Anchialites Association of Athens, Athens 2017, pp. 136 isbn:978-960-99160-4-2 (In print).
– “The Privy Counsellor of Emperors Michael Psellos. A Christian Philosophy of History”, Annual Journal of Philosophical Research dia-LOGOS, vol. 9 (2019) 38-50 (in Greek, with an abstract in English).
– “Greek scholars of Mayan Studies”, Papyri – Scientific Journal, volume 8, 2019, 19-32 (in Greek, with an abstract in English), ISSN: 2241-5106.
– “MAGIC AND MADNESS: A bidirectional relationship”, Ethnologhia On Line Academic E-Journal Published by the Greek Society for Ethnology, 10:2 (2020), 1-18 (ISSN 1792-9628) (in Greek, with an abstract in English).
– “Mysticism and Power. From Plotinus to the Information Age,” in: Ioannis Tzamtzis-Christos Stavrakos-Panagiotis Antonopoulos (eds.), ΑΡΕΤΗΝ ΤΗΝ ΚΑΛΛΙΣΤΗΝ. Mélanges en l’honneur de Kalliopi A. Bourdara – Essays in Honour of Kelly A. Bourdara, 2 vol., Sakoula, Athens / Thessaloniki 2021, pp. 1381-1398.
Translations
– Translation in Greek of: Mihaela Palade, “The Importance of the Byzantine Legacy for the Romanian Sacred Art”, European Journal of Science and Theology, June 2006, Vol. 3, 25-35, in: Synaxis, issue 101, January – March 2007, 30-41.
-Translation in Greek of: Georgi Kapriev, “The Modern Study of Byzantine Philosophy”, Bulletin de Philosophie Médiévale. Édité par la Société Internationale pour l’Étude de la Philosophie Médiévale (S.I.E.P.M.), 48e année 2006, 3-13, in: Synaxis, issue 115, July – September 2010, 50-60.
– Translation and editing in Greek of: Émile Bréhier, La Philosophie de Plotin, K. & M. Stamouli Publications, Thessaloniki 2023, pp. 190, ISBN: 978-960-656-162-7.
Book chapters
– Translation in Greek of: Charles Barber and David Jenkins, «III. Congrès Terminés. 3-4 February 2006, Notre Dame, IN (USA)», Bulletin de Philosophie Médiévale. Édité par la Société Internationale pour l’Étude de la Philosophie Médiévale (S.I.E.P.M.), 48e année 2006, 272-274, in Linos G. Benakis, Byzantine Philosophy B. Ed. Parousia, Athens 2013, 107-110.
– Translation in Greek of: Linos Benakis, «Editorial. Enhancing Byzantines Studies in U.S.A.» European Journal of Science and Theology, June 2007, vol. 3, no. 2, 1-3, in Linos G. Benakis, Byzantine Philosophy B. Ed. Parousia, Athens 2013, 34-37.
Reviews
– Georges Gémiste Pléthon, Traité de Vertues, Édition critique, avec introduction, traduction et commentaire par Brigitte Tambrun-Krasker, (Corpus Philosophorum Medii Aevi: Philosophi Byzantini 3) Athens,The Academy of Athens – Leiden, E.J. Brill, 1987, pp. XCII + 127, Greek Philosophical Review, vol. 8, no. 23, May 1991, 176-184 (in Greek).
– Takis Andoniou, Plotinus sees the Being, Ed. Dodoni, Athens, 2000, Greek PhilosophicalReview, vol. 18, no. 54, September 2001, 300 (in Greek).
– Linos Benakis, Ancient Greek Philosophy. Historiography and Research Publications. Ed. Parousia, Athens, 2004, Synaxis, no. 90, April-June 2004, 100 (in Greek).
– Linos Benakis, Byzantine Philosophy. Texts and Studies, Parousia, Athens, 2002, Social Science Tribune, University of Thessaly, vol. 10, no. 40, Autumn 2004, 220-221 (in Greek).
– Theodosis Pelegrinis, Neoplatonism. The Twilight of Ancient Greek Philosophy. Ed. Ellinika Grammata, Athens, 2003, Greek Philosophical Review, vol. 22, no. 65, May 2005, 199-205 (in Greek).
– Linos Benakis, Memory of Five Philosophers. I.N.Theodorakopoulos (1900-1981), P.K.Kanellopoulos (1902-1986), K.D.Tsatsos (1899-1987), E.P.Papanoutsos (1900-1982), V.N.Tatakis (1987-1986). Texts for the Five Philosophers. Biographical Notes and Complete List of their Works. Ed. Parousia, Athens, 2006, Synaxis, issue 99, July-September 2006, 202-204 (in Greek).
– Philotheos: International Journal forPhilosophy and Theology, vol. 1 (2001), pp. 1-293, vol. 2 (2002), pp. 1-248, vol. 3 (2003), pp.1-320, vol. 4 (2004), pp. 1-326, Synaxis, issue 101, January-March 2007, 107-108 (in Greek).
– Edward Moore, Origen of Alexandria and St. Maximus the Confessor. An Analysis and Critical Evaluation of their Eschatological Doctrines, Dissertation.com, Boca Raton, Florida, USA 2005, Philotheos.International Journal for Philosophy and Theology, vol. 7 (2007), 496-497 (in English).
– Social ScienceTribune, Quarterly Scientific Review. Special Issue. Education-New Technologies-Humanism, Collection of Texts-Editing Kostas Lamnias, University of Thessaly and Papazisi Publications, vol. 12, issue 48, Winter 2006, pp. 281,(21 November 2007) (in Greek).
– Iamblichus, the Exhortation to Philosophy. Introduction, ancient text, translation, notes by Linos Benakis, Academy of Athens, Athens 2012, 260 pp”. Annual Journal of Philosophical Research dia-LOGOS, vol. 3 (2013), 261-264 (in Greek).
– Linos G. Benakis, Byzantine Philosophy B’. Parousia, Athens 2013, pp. 544. ISBN: 978-6652-40-0, BYZANTINA SYMMEIKTA 23 (2013): 377-379 (in Greek).
– Linos G. Benakis, Theodore of Smyrna: Epitome of Nature and Natural Principles According to the Ancients. Editio princeps. Introduction – Text – Indices. Corpus Philosophorum Medii Aevi, Philosophi Byzantini 12. Academy of Athens, Athens 2013, 33*+77p., THEOLOGIA. Quarterly publication of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, vol. 85, issue 2, April – June 2014, 405-410 (in Greek).
– Ioannis Telelis, Georgios Pachymeres. Philosophia, Book 5: Commentary in Aristotle’s Meteorologica, Editio princeps. Prolegomena, Text, Indices. Corpus Philosophorum Medii Aevi. Commentaria in Aristotelem Byzantina, 6. Athenai, Akademia Athenon, Kentron Ereunes tes Hellenikes kai Latinikes Grammateias 2012. X+132*+137 p., Byzantinische Zeitschrift 07/2014; 107(1):280-284 (in English).
– Linos G. Benakis, Theodore of Smyrna: Epitome of Nature and Natural Principles According to the Ancients. Editio princeps. Introduction – Text – Indices. Corpus Philosophorum Medii Aevi, Philosophi Byzantini 12. Academy of Athens, Athens 2013, 33*+77 p., PHILOSOPHEIN. Semi-annual Philosophical Review, vol. 11, January 2015, 337-344 (in Greek).