A closer look
When you're trying to prove the validity of divine magic (theurgy) to your skeptics, it's best to rely on mystical chubby babies. The 4th-century philosopher Iamblichus was a hardcore defender of pagan magic against the rise of Christianity. According to his biographer, while visiting the hot springs in Syria, his disciples asked him for a sign of his power. He supposedly muttered an incantation and summoned two divine spirits, Eros and Anteros, directly out of the bubbling water. They manifested not as terrifying Biblical wheels of fire, but as two glowing, fair-haired boys who hugged him. Magical street cred firmly secured.
