Summary: The text discusses the religious developments in later antiquity, focusing on the philosophical and metaphysical views of ancient thinkers. It illustrates how the establishment of the stars as animated beings contributed to a philosophical religion influenced by Chaldean star worship. The evolution from polytheistic Greek beliefs to a more divine perception of heavenly bodies is explained from Aristotle to the Neo-Platonist school. The later antiquity period saw the emergence of philosophical orthodoxy regarding the divinity of the stars, emphasizing a teleological relationship between the supreme deity and the universe. The text highlights the ethical considerations and metaphysical doctrines of ancient philosophers like Plotinus, Iamblichus, and Proclus, discussing concepts like the nature of good and evil, the role of matter in the creation, and the dichotomy between intelligible and corporeal existence. Moreover, it delves into the philosophical commentary on the role of ethics and metaphysics in shaping the understanding of the cosmos and human existence, laying the groundwork for further discussions on religious beliefs and philosophical perspectives.