Anebon Abamon and the mental-presence authorities · Lexicon

From the book

Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I

Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026

Orientation

At a Glance

The wordThe two first names are identified as Egyptian priests; Plotinus, Iamblichus, and Julian as Platonists.
In the Platonic TheologyFicino attributes to these authorities the view that every angelic or animating mind spreads whole throughout immensity without mutual confusion.
In this edition“Animating” for animalem and animales is essential: these are minds belonging to soul or giving life, not minds confined to nonhuman animals.
A place to readThe named authorities and “their position” open the reported argument

Meaning

The two first names are identified as Egyptian priests; Plotinus, Iamblichus, and Julian as Platonists. Voluerunt here reports what they maintained, rather than a wish. Quorum sententia, “their position,” and Haec illi de mente, “so much for their account of mind,” frame the exposition.

Use in the book

Ficino attributes to these authorities the view that every angelic or animating mind spreads whole throughout immensity without mutual confusion. The following arguments appeal to independence from matter, analogies between eternity and space, immunity from change, mind as divine expression, the range of thought and desire, and mind’s essential inclination toward God. The final candle example explains how universal presence could coexist with conspicuous activity in a particular region.

The opening of II.6.14 first continues Ficino’s account of God. Its later naming clause introduces the broader theory of every mind; the chapter’s last sentence then returns to God. This precise transition matters more than loosely labeling the whole chapter either Ficino’s doctrine or a quotation. No independent identification of Julian, or historical reconstruction of the priestly names, is needed to explain their local function.

Places to read

II.6.14, II.6.15The named authorities and “their position” open the reported argument
II.6.16, II.6.20, II.6.23Temporal, linguistic, and essential-inclination grounds develop that position
II.6.24The candle illustration closes with an explicit return from their account to God

Translation in this edition

“Animating” for animalem and animales is essential: these are minds belonging to soul or giving life, not minds confined to nonhuman animals. The apparatus notes Iamblicusque in the base text and a different form in later witnesses; the English uses the conventional Iamblichus. This is an apparatus report, not a new collation. The remaining supplied names are retained without conjectural identification.

Anebon / Abamon / Plotinus / Iamblichus / Julianus

Anebon / Abamon / Plotinus / Iamblichus / Julianus. Printed forms: Abamon; Anebon; Iamblicusque; Iulianus; Plotinus.

The named authorities for the universal mental-presence account. The text identifies priests and Platonists, then expressly expounds their position before returning to God. References: II.6.14. See Anebon Abamon and the mental-presence authorities.

sententia / voluerunt

sententia / voluerunt. Printed forms: sententia; voluerunt.

An opinion or position; voluerunt reports what thinkers maintained. These reporting markers distinguish an attributed theory from the author’s direct assertion or a literal wish. References: II.6.14, II.6.15, II.7.15. See Anebon Abamon and the mental-presence authorities.