Esoteric Orientalism Part II: The Greeks are Always Children?

In this episode of The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast, Earl Fontainelle delves into the complex relationship between ancient Greece and older Mediterranean civilizations, particularly Egypt and Mesopotamia, focusing on the Greeks' perception of themselves as relative newcomers. He explores the concept of Greek Orientalism, the diffusion of technology and sciences, and the historical debate surrounding the origins of Greek knowledge, particularly astronomy. Fontainelle critiques the Hellenophile school of thought, which emphasizes the unique genius of the Greeks, and discusses Martin Bernal's "Black Athena" and the racial undertones in the construction of ancient Greek history. The episode concludes by questioning the role of ancient Egypt in the development of Greek civilization, setting the stage for future explorations of esoteric subjects like astrology, alchemy, and theurgy.