De Mysteriis Aegyptiorum
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The Theurgia, or De Mysteriis Aegyptiorum (On the Mysteries of the Egyptians), was written by Iamblichus Chalcidensis, a Neoplatonic philosopher who studied under Porphyry.
Porphyry is known to have had a disagreement with Iamblichus over the practice of theurgy, and the Mysteries consists mainly of Iamblichus' responses to the criticisms of his teacher.
Proclus, a student of Iamblichus, seems to have ascribed to him the authorship of the Mysteries. However, the differences between this book and Iamblichus' other works in style and in some points of doctrine have led some to question whether Iamblichus was the actual author. Still, the treatise certainly originated from his school, and in its systematic attempt to give a speculative justification of the polytheistic cult practices of the day, it marks a turning-point in the history of thought where Iamblichus stood.
