Chasing butterflies: The Conception of the Soul in Plutarch’s Works

When first approaching a topic such as the concept of material or natural soul in Greek literature, the researcher might be puzzled. While in diverse contemporary cultures, numerous theriomorphic figures (bears, ravens, mice, wasps, bees, dragonflies, and dung-beetles) serve to represent the human soul in its transmigration from life to death, this is not the case in Greek culture. At least, this is what one may conclude from the monograph written by the Dutch scholar J. Bremmer, The early Greek Concept of the Soul: "importunely, there are no other indications of a possible connection between the butterfly and the soul of the living and the dead" (1987: 64). Given Plutarch’s great interest in the soul, which can be seen in a variety of texts referring to its generation, form, internal dichotomy, material substance, origin and destination, etc., the question arises as to whether Plutarch also includes such a representation of the soul when departing from the dead body. Does the corpus plutarcheum preserve and transmit such conception of the human soul? And if it does, are we dealing with survival of ancestral beliefs or motifs or is it a simple metaphor by means of which ancients intended to express the departing of the life-breath? In the following pages I will focus on three texts that allegedly include the butterfly-motif to represent the human soul, to wit, Table Talks 636C, Consolation to his Wife 611F, and the fragment 177 Sandbach.

The ship of the soul, and other papers.

Mode of access: Internet.

The immortality of the soul : considered in the light of the Holy Scriptures, the testimony of reason and nature, and the various phenomena of life and death /

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

The ancient Egyptian doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul

Includes bibliographical references.

The city of the soul /

"First edition printed May 1899; second edition printed December 1899; third edition printed March 1911."

Death and its mystery : before death, proofs of the existence of the soul /

Mode of access: Internet.

Beyond. A drama of the soul.

At head of title: "Several days before the death of Edgar Allan Poe he had a dream, which, with characteristic vividness, he related to a friend of his, a Baltimore physician. Poe dreamed he was murdered, and in heaven his soul met that of his murdurer. The dream of Poe has furnished the basis of this drama."

The spiritual combat: to which is added, The peace of the soul, and the happiness of the heart, which dies to itself, in order to live to God.

Translation of Combattimento spirituale.

On the immortality of the soul, or, Quaestionum tusculanarum liber I /

Mode of access: Internet.

The evidences of the Christian religion, with additional discourses on the following subjects, viz: Of God, and his attributes. The power and wisdom of God in the creation. The providence of God. The worship of God. Advantages of revelation above natural reason. Excellency of the Christian institution. Dignity of the Scripture language. Against atheism and infidelity. Against the modern free-thinkers. Immortality of the soul, and a future state. Death and judgment.

Shaw-Shoemaker

Mortal life; and the state of the soul after death : conformable to divine revelation as interpreted by the ablest commentators, and consistent with the discoveries of science /

Mode of access: Internet.

Phaedon : or, A dialogue on the immortality of the soul.

The translation of Plato was made by André Dacier, not by Anne Lefèvre (Mme. André Dacier).

The garden of the soul, or A manual of spiritual exercises and instructions for Christians, who, living in the world, aspire to devotion.

Mode of access: Internet.

The winning of the soul : and other sermons /

Mode of access: Internet.

Songs of the soul, gathered out of many lands and ages.

Mode of access: Internet.