Mystai

Mystai

Hi, I'm Chris. I'm an archaeologist with a focus on Late Antique religion and Philosophy. I'm currently pursuing a Masters in Egyptology & Middle Eastern Heritage at UCL. My research interests are around the archaeology of magic and the antiquities trade in the Middle East, especially the reception & exchange of religious texts.

Welcome to my KZread channel. I talk about ancient magic in the material record, theurgy & philosophy as well as theoretical approaches to the study of esotericism. I take special notice of Neoplatonism & Hermetism and make content relating to these currents using academic material.

I hope to make education on these topics accessible and informative to help give people a sense of structure and depth in their spiritual practice.

Read about my work & studies on my substack: chrislyon.substack.com

Contact: [email protected]

Пікірлер

  • @SpiceBear
    @SpiceBear4 сағат бұрын

    Welp. Time to buy a Kerry Wisner book

  • @dp6003
    @dp60038 сағат бұрын

    In the World, not just Greece

  • @dp6003
    @dp60035 күн бұрын

    I love Schliemann , but this was not Troy

  • @briganfree3656
    @briganfree36565 күн бұрын

    This has been very interesting and and informative. I have enjoyed listening thank you. I have subscribed. ❤

  • @sonnysobremonte7379
    @sonnysobremonte73797 күн бұрын

    Hay Ben happy to see ya

  • @BenStimpsonAuthor
    @BenStimpsonAuthor6 күн бұрын

    Heyyyy!

  • @sonnysobremonte7379
    @sonnysobremonte73796 күн бұрын

    @@BenStimpsonAuthor so hear new book that’s awesome keep me posted would love to check them out!!!!

  • @BenStimpsonAuthor
    @BenStimpsonAuthor6 күн бұрын

    @@sonnysobremonte7379 I'll be making announcements on FB closer to the time, Crossed Crow will eventually open it up for preorders too

  • @sonnysobremonte7379
    @sonnysobremonte73796 күн бұрын

    @@BenStimpsonAuthor hehe k cool I’ll re download fb lol I was taking a break for a bit

  • @Sditchvampire
    @Sditchvampire7 күн бұрын

    Been on a real binge of your videos over the past few days. Your content is great and adresses many dated theories that have been left to permiate for so long.

  • @mystai
    @mystai7 күн бұрын

    Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

  • @pjgrieco
    @pjgrieco9 күн бұрын

    great! thanx!

  • @ariskritikos160
    @ariskritikos16010 күн бұрын

    The mycenean palace in Lakonia is in Agios Basileios, not Menelaion.

  • @mystai
    @mystai10 күн бұрын

    I didn't actually mention the palace in Agios Basileios in this video! But yes, there is a Mycenaean palace there not far from the village Xerokambi that was found in 2008. It's a different palace to the Menelaion which is about 5km outside of modern Sparta. We've known about that one since the mid 1800s I believe.

  • @ariskritikos160
    @ariskritikos1609 күн бұрын

    Exactly. So the statement in the video that we haven't found a palace in Lakonia is not accurate.

  • @mystai
    @mystai9 күн бұрын

    ​@ariskritikos160 The statement at 3.40 is in reference specifically to a Homeric palace, in the area he assigns to Menelaus. As I mentioned, the Menelaion doesn't date until the 8th century well after the Collapse. We have palaces in Lakonia, absolutely, but none around Sparta that can be considered a candidate for Homer's Menelaus, and based on our view of Homer, there probably wasn't one.

  • @ariskritikos160
    @ariskritikos1609 күн бұрын

    @@mystai The Agios Basileios palace is a canditate. It is few klms away from present day Sparta as is the Menelaion. The palace of Nestor is also few klms away from modern Pylos but it is accepted that it is the homeric palace. They have even found linear b tablets in Agios Basileios.

  • @mystai
    @mystai9 күн бұрын

    @@ariskritikos160 Theoretically it could be, but it has more or less the same validity/claim to Menelaus as the Menelaion does. The majority of graves there are comparitavely very poor compared to other palaces, and the Geophys survey carried out on the hilltop shows it was tiny, especially for a palace. It's only around 9ha, compared to Thebes or Mycene which were 30-40ha. It also seems to have been unfortified and was destroyed much earlier, perhaps as much as 2 generations earlier, than the other Mycenaean palaces. The Linear B fragments aren't complete tablets, and the largest wasn't found in situ, so is hard to pin down with certainty. If we find more, especially with an inscription referencing Menelaus or Helen, then there's something to really look at. But, in its defense, the palace does seem to have been a political centre in Lakonia, just not associated with Menelaus, but you never know :)

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton801710 күн бұрын

  • @Ressiloveyouruglymug
    @Ressiloveyouruglymug10 күн бұрын

    I'm subscribing, but bro: you NEED a better audio set up if you want me to come back. These are SO good, but SOOO hard to listen to.

  • @SpiceBear
    @SpiceBear12 күн бұрын

    1:36:20 hilarious and great point

  • @david-jr5fn
    @david-jr5fn12 күн бұрын

    I often ponder on how such power structures may have influenced human evolution on the level of intellectual and dna

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton801713 күн бұрын

    🔥

  • @carola7893
    @carola789314 күн бұрын

    I'm having to download it to watch later. As I'll be going to an area with little Internet!

  • @mystai
    @mystai14 күн бұрын

    I hope you get to watch it all okay!

  • @andreatheherbalist
    @andreatheherbalist15 күн бұрын

    What if Gods that nations serve are servitors or egregores/thought forms etc? That's why they always demand worship and sacrifice because they need to be fed? If you don't pay them attention there is a serious penalty... I dunno... just thinking..

  • @andreatheherbalist
    @andreatheherbalist15 күн бұрын

    I don't work with the moon in the traditional way. I hate new moons and full moons. And I love moon void of course which is supposed to be bad. It feels like I can breathe and I don't feel affected by anything which is great. So I schedule the moon of course to accomplish things. I love waning for all things. I don't know why.

  • @pedromayallguilayn507
    @pedromayallguilayn50716 күн бұрын

    I am watching all presentations about bronze age/dark age Greece. Excellent work!

  • @mystai
    @mystai16 күн бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it! It's definitely a rabbit hole, but I really like this section of KZread.

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton801717 күн бұрын

    This is why I love the internet.

  • @mystai
    @mystai17 күн бұрын

    I try to make it a nicer place ;)

  • @AnthonyPowellMagick
    @AnthonyPowellMagick18 күн бұрын

    This turned out great, man.

  • @mystai
    @mystai17 күн бұрын

    Thanks man! One of my favourite topics

  • @vinrusso821
    @vinrusso82118 күн бұрын

    This is the third channel with the Not Dark Ages" title. Yes they were very dark. When major civilizations end like the Hittite and Myceneans did, not to mention Ugarit. Writing and diplomatic treaties vanished, as did most long distance trade. It's pretty dark.

  • @mystai
    @mystai18 күн бұрын

    Writing and diplomatic treatise didn't end, they transformed and scaled down to village level economies. But as I mentioned, Lefkandi makes a strong case for continuing distance trade and elite culture given that Euboea was central to the LBA trade network and continued throughout the EIA. Equally, places like Cyprus and Sicily bounced back rapidly to the extent they were barely effected by the economic disruption. The period is only "dark" because of the absence of textual sources, not because it declined in quality.

  • @sus10651
    @sus1065118 күн бұрын

    Dark Ages should be called as such coz decline in living standards, quality of Art and central state authority.

  • @mystai
    @mystai18 күн бұрын

    We have no evidence for there being a decline in living standards outside of increased rading, which was already going on during the LBA. Artistic sophistication is relative, they’re certainly not making frescos like earlier Mycenaean, but Geometric pottery and stylisation is more advanced than the LBA. Central state authority waning is true, but as I mention in the video, it’s questionable to view the decreasing interference of the state in local affairs as a “decline” over and above an ideological shift that gave craft producers and village economies independence.

  • @carola7893
    @carola789318 күн бұрын

    I'm so glad i found your channel! Absolutely fascinating!!

  • @mystai
    @mystai18 күн бұрын

    Glad you found me! Appreciate you watching :)

  • @barrywhite7741
    @barrywhite774118 күн бұрын

    Fantastic series, keep up the good work.

  • @mystai
    @mystai18 күн бұрын

    Thank you! Hope you caught the next episode.

  • @JohnSmith-en6ev
    @JohnSmith-en6ev18 күн бұрын

    I like how the leftist wants to de attribute something from the west. What a surprise 😂

  • @mystai
    @mystai18 күн бұрын

    Which part are you referring to? We were both generally pretty apolitical.

  • @JohnSmith-en6ev
    @JohnSmith-en6ev18 күн бұрын

    @@mystai the start my dood. The start. Latrobe uni is a leftist organisation

  • @pokepimp98
    @pokepimp9819 күн бұрын

    Very cool video

  • @mercyshaver5264
    @mercyshaver526419 күн бұрын

    Receptive ARTS

  • @kukumuniu5658
    @kukumuniu565819 күн бұрын

    Hi :) I have one question How to get rid of and separate yourself from the influence of human spirits? Only spirits and deities of nature, and other forms of life that have never been human. Is it possible?

  • @theferalfolkwitch
    @theferalfolkwitch20 күн бұрын

    Kerry is an excellent speaker and a wealth of knowledge, Thank you

  • @mystai
    @mystai19 күн бұрын

    I agree! I love having him on.

  • @AnthonyPowellMagick
    @AnthonyPowellMagick20 күн бұрын

    I can relate to his path in a lot of ways. Thank you putting this up and having the guest on.

  • @lindawisner3525
    @lindawisner352521 күн бұрын

    Thank you for this. I'm a fan ❤ 😅

  • @gorbalsboy
    @gorbalsboy21 күн бұрын

    A stunning combination 😮grand stuff from a pair of grand lads😊all the best from sunny Troon

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton801721 күн бұрын

    Excellent conversation!!!!

  • @mystai
    @mystai21 күн бұрын

    Thanks man!

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton801720 күн бұрын

    @@mystaiThe second listen was way better! Ive been feeling kind of disconnected lately and listening to this gentleman talk about his experience with the red robbed land spirit really hit me!

  • @IvyTheOccultist
    @IvyTheOccultist21 күн бұрын

    How do you not have more subscribers? I don't understand. Great conversation!

  • @mystai
    @mystai21 күн бұрын

    I only really just started posting content consistently, so it’s always slow at first :)

  • @IvyTheOccultist
    @IvyTheOccultist21 күн бұрын

    ​@@mystai it is definitely painfully slow - I know how that goes! I'll share your stuff with my channel members ☺️ I'm sure you'll get picked up by the algorithm quick!

  • @gorbalsboy
    @gorbalsboy21 күн бұрын

    I think it's just a bit too much for most armchair pagans,mages, personaly I think the man's a star he is not scared to talk about more complicated aspects of magic, I hope his channel grows as well,all the best from sunny Troon 😊

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton801721 күн бұрын

    🔥🔥❤️

  • @PaulNechifor
    @PaulNechifor21 күн бұрын

    Why is there such resistance towards calling it the Dark Ages? If society regresses and started producing more simplistic art, isn't objective to call it a regression?

  • @mystai
    @mystai21 күн бұрын

    As I mentioned, Dark Age is a historical term that denotes an absence of texts, not an archaeological one. We see a scaling down and isolation of village economies, but it's certainly not a regression, it just becomes harder to discern in the record. Equally, we can't really base a period name purely on artistic expression relative to older ones, by that logic we would be living in a Dark Ages today compared to the Renaissance. Dark Age gives precisely the impression that Greek society underwent a regression or fall, which just isn't what we're seeing archaeologiclaly.

  • @notanplant
    @notanplant11 күн бұрын

    OP already gave you an answer, but answering to your objection (that can be applied to other events in history, such as "age of enlightment" calling middle age the "dark ages"), this too inform us of the past - it inform us how people who came up with terms were thinking

  • @AnthonyPowellMagick
    @AnthonyPowellMagick22 күн бұрын

    Good stuff

  • @mystai
    @mystai22 күн бұрын

    Thanks, brother. The Lefkandi Krater has me really contemplating.

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton801721 күн бұрын

    Vayu!!!! ❤❤❤

  • @papalangiloi
    @papalangiloi23 күн бұрын

    Quick question for @renaissanceastrology regards the Paolo Lucentini (?) book, was the title mentioned Hermes Latinus? I found an Italian media release about Corpus Christianorum Continvatio Medievalis Hermes Latinus: Opera Omnia, is this the same? Many thanks for a very lively and interesting discussion gentlemen. 🤘🏻

  • @VMYE-ir6vw
    @VMYE-ir6vw24 күн бұрын

    I’m glad that I found your channel. Thanks for sharing ❤

  • @SpiceBear
    @SpiceBear28 күн бұрын

    Great video

  • @chrisg2307
    @chrisg230729 күн бұрын

    Great work!! Always enjoy someone isn't aiming for clickbait, but actually follows the facts.

  • @mystai
    @mystai25 күн бұрын

    Thank you! I"m trying to make the information more digestible and relatable.

  • @sentinal2343
    @sentinal234329 күн бұрын

    Why do people still use those statues? when we now KNOW THEY ARE ALL FAKES! not produced by said people at said time!

  • @mystai
    @mystai25 күн бұрын

    I addressed the reconstruction problem in the video as well as the Blue Ladies Fresco, which is a 20th century reconstruction :)

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton8017Ай бұрын

    Those gold inlays are beautiful and that agate 😳

  • @mystai
    @mystai29 күн бұрын

    The Agate is crazy to me, the level of artistry they had is amazing!

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton801728 күн бұрын

    @@mystai Truly.

  • @alexblynne1557
    @alexblynne1557Ай бұрын

    Regarding Alexandra David-Neel's tulpa, I couldn't find that passage in my copy. I have a reprint from 1973, though. Is that from an older version?

  • @mystai
    @mystaiАй бұрын

    The sources and editions I used for this video are in the description :) From what I remember, I was reading the 1971 edition at the time.

  • @sonnysobremonte7379
    @sonnysobremonte7379Ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤❤

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton8017Ай бұрын

    YES!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

  • @FraterRC
    @FraterRCАй бұрын

    Party time for the übernerds

  • @FraterRC
    @FraterRCАй бұрын

    booyah!

  • @johnnewton8017
    @johnnewton8017Ай бұрын

    ❤️