Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles
available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pseudo-Dionysius
the Areopagite, also known as Pseudo-Denys, is the anonymous theologian
and philosopher of the late 5th to early 6th century whose Corpus
Areopagiticum (before 532) was pseudonymously ascribed to Dionysius the
Areopagite, the Athenian convert of St. Paul mentioned in Acts 17:34.
The author was historically believed to be the Areopagite because he
claimed acquaintance with biblical characters. His surviving works
include Divine Names, Mystical Theology, Celestial Hierarchy,
Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, and various epistles. Some other works are no
longer extant, such as Theological Outlines. His works are mystical and
show strong Neoplatonic influence. For example he uses Plotinus' well
known analogy of a sculptor cutting away that which does not enhance the
desired image. He shows familiarity with Proclus, which indicates he
wrote no earlier than the 5th century, as well as influence from Saint
Clement of Alexandria, the Cappadocian Fathers, Origen of Alexandria,
and others.