Damascius
I just want to doff my cap to Damascius. The last, and possibly most courageous, of the leaders of the Platonic academy in Athens before it was closed forever by the sweeping tide of Christian intolerance. I could write here about him but instead I will post a link to a podcast.
Sara Rappe has also translated Damascius’ “Problems and Solutions on First Principles” into English, which is here
If you happen to be looking for a pagan, non duallist hero of Mediterranean thought traditions. Look no further.
As the disassociated and violently intolerant monotheism of Christianity was taking over, he foresaw
“The Earth is a desert without its Gods”
And so it is turning out.