Asclepigenia

Who was Asclepigenia?

Asclepigenia was an Athenian philosopher and mystic whose life is known from an account in Marinus' Life of Proclus. Her father, Plutarch of Athens was head of the Neoplatonist school at Athens, and instructed Asclepigenia and her brother Hierius in the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle. To Asclepigenia alone, though, he passed on the Chaldean mysticism and theurgy that had been taught to him by his father Nestorius.

Following her father's death, Asclepigenia continued in her profession; her most famous student was Proclus, whom she initiated into the arcane rituals of theurgy.