This paper explores the concepts of light and darkness from ancient Greece to the 14th-century Balkans through the perspectives of several authors and traditions. The first part examines mythological, religious, and philosophical thought in Greek and Hellenistic contexts, while the second focuses on Plotinus’s interpretation and the reflections of Augustine of Hippo and Gregory Palamas. The concluding section identifies similarities and differences in how light and darkness have been understood across these traditions. Rather than offering a comprehensive overview, the paper aims to highlight conceptual continuities and the ways in which these ideas were transmitted over time.
Tamara Plećaš (2026) studied this question.