Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 16 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE ART OF KNOWING AND OF DIVINISING II. 1. Wherefore the longing for the Godly state is a desire for Truth, and specially the [truth] about the Gods, in so much as it doth embrace reception of the sacred [things]--instructi...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 08 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], OF THE GREEK DISCIPLES OF EGYPTIANS AND OF PYTHAGORAS AND HIS SYMBOLS X. 1. And the most wise of the Greeks also are witnesses--Solon, Thales, Plato, Eudoxus, Pythagoras, and, as some say, Lycurgus as well--through coming to Egypt...
Xv. Concerning The Crater Or Cup : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 450 XV CONCERNING THE CRATER OR CUP "He filled a mighty Cup with it [Mind], and sent it down, joining a Herald [to it], to whom He gave command to make this proclamation to the hearts of men: Baptize thyself with this Cups baptism,"...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], CONCERNING SARAPIS 4. For they say that Sarapis is no other than Pluto, and Isis Persephassa, as Archemachus of Euba has said, 3 and Heracleides of Pontus, when he supposes that the seat of the oracle at Canopus is Plutos. XXVIII. 1...
Vi. An Egyptian Prototype Of The Main Features : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 128 VI AN EGYPTIAN PROTOTYPE OF THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE PMANDRES COSMOGONY THE HIGHER CRITICISM OF THE "PMANDRES" One has only to read through the remains of the Trismegistic literature preserved to us to assure himself that the whole...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 05 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE UNDER-MEANING A REFLEXION OF A CERTAIN REASON XX. I. These are approximately the chief headings of their myth, after the most ill-omened have been removed,--such as, for instance, the one about the cutting up into pieces of Horus...
I. The Remains Of The Trismegistic Literature : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 1 THRICE-GREATEST HERMES I THE REMAINS OF THE TRISMEGISTIC LITERATURE WRITER AND READER Little did I think when, years ago, I began to translate some of the Trismegistic tractates, that the undertaking would finally grow into these...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 12 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], ON THE DRINKING OF WINE VI. 1. And as for wine, the servants of the God in Sun-city 2 do not at all bring it into the sacred place, as tis not right [for them] to drink by day while He, their Lord and King, looks on. 2. The rest [of them...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 13 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 267 OF THE REFRAINING FROM FLESH AND SALT AND SUPERFLUITIES V. 1. And the priests handle so hardly 1 the nature of superfluities, that they not only deprecate the many kinds of pulse, and of meats the sheep-flesh 2 kinds...
X. Hermas And Hermes : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 369 X "HERMAS" AND "HERMES" AN ANTICIPATION When, in a recent book, 1 I was treating of the Early Church document "The Shepherd of Hermas," in connection with the ancient and mysterious "Book of Elxai," which, according to Epiphanius...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 09 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE KINGS, THE RIDDLES OF THE PRIESTS, AND THE MEANING OF AMOUN IX. 1. The kings were appointed from the priests or from the warriors,--the one caste possessing worth and honour through manliness, and the other through wisdom. 2. And he...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 17 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 261 CONCERNING ISIS AND OSIRIS ADDRESS TO KLEA CONCERNING GNOSIS AND THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH 1 I. 1. 2 While all who have mind, O Klea, should ask for all their blessings from the Gods--let "us," by pursuing after them, pray to obt...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 03 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], CONCERNING THE THEORY OF EVEMERUS XXII. 1. Now, since many of such [? tombs] are spoken of and pointed out, those who think these [myths] commemorate the awe-inspiring and mighty works and passions of kings and tyrants who, through...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 07 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], ADVICE TO KLEA CONCERNING THE HIDDEN MEANING OF THE MYTHS XI. 1. When, therefore, thou hearest the myth-sayings of the Egyptians concerning the Gods--wanderings and p. 277 dismemberings, and many such passions 1--thou shouldst remember...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 19 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 367 AFTERWORD So ends this exceedingly instructive treatise of Plutarch, which, in spite of the mass of texts and monuments concerning sr and st which have already been deciphered by the industry of Egyptologists, remains the most...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 11 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], ON FISH TABOOS VII. 1. As to sea-fish, all [Egyptians] abstain generally (not from all [fish] but) from some;--as, for example, those of the Oxyrhynchus nome from those caught with a hook, for as they venerate the sharp-snouted fish, 5...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 15 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE TRUE INITIATES OF ISIS III. 1. Yet many have set down that she is Hermes daughter, and many [that she is] Prometheuss,--I holding the latter as discoverer of wisdom and foreknowledge, and Hermes of the art of letters and the Muses art...
Xiv. The Vision Of Er : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 437 XIV THE VISION OF ER "But to the Mindless ones, the wicked and depraved, the envious and covetous, and those who murder do and love impiety, I am far off, yielding my place to the Avenging Daimon."--"C. H.," ff., i. 23. ER S...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 23 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], AGAINST THE WEATHER AND VEGETATION GOD THEORIES LXV. 1. And we shall also get our hands on the dull crowd who take pleasure in associating the [mystic recitals] about these Gods either with changes of the atmosphere according...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 27 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 323 THE THEORY OF THE DUALISTS XLV. 1. From [all of] which it seems not unreasonable to conclude that no simple [explanation] by itself gives the right meaning, but that they all collectively do so. 2. For neither drought nor wind n...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 31 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE THEORY OF THE PHYSICISTS XXXII. 1. 4 The above [data] then afford [us] such and such suggestions. But from another start let us consider the simplest of those who seem to give a more philosophical explanation. 2. These are those who...
Viii. Philo Of Alexandria And The Hellenistic : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 199 VIII PHILO OF ALEXANDRIA AND THE HELLENISTIC THEOLOGY CONCERNING PHILO AND HIS METHOD Seeing that a study of the Trismegistic literature is essentially a study in Hellenistic theology, no introduction to this literature would be...
Xi. Concerning The Aeon Doctrine : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 387 XI CONCERNING THE ON-DOCTRINE "Hear then, my son, how standeth God and All. God; on; Cosmos; Time; Becoming."--"C. H.," xi. (xii.) 1. THE SCOPE OF OUR ESSAY While rigidly excluding any consideration of the amazing elaborati...
Xii. The Seven Zones And Their Characteristics : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 413 XII THE SEVEN ZONES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS "To the first zone he gives the energy of Growth and Waning; unto the second zone, Device of Evils now de-energized; unto the third, the Guile of the Desires de-energized; un...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 21 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], CONCERNING THE SACRED ROBES LXXVII. 1. Now as to robes: those of Isis [are] variegated in their dyes, for her power [is] connected with matters producing all things and receiving [all]--light darkness, day night, fire water, life death...
Iii. Thoth The Master Of Wisdom : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 47 III THOTH THE MASTER OF WISDOM THOTH (TEUTI) The present chapter will be devoted to a brief consideration of the nature, powers, and attributes of the divine personification Thoth (Teuti), the Master of Wisdom and Truth...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 25 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE SYMBOLISM OF THE SISTRUM LXIII. 1. The sistrum () also shows that existent things must be shaken up () and never have cessation from impulse, but as it were be wakened up and agitated when they fall asleep and die away. 2. For they...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 29 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE THEORY OF THE PHYSICISTS RESUMED XXXVI. 1. And they call not only the Nile, but also without distinction all that is moist, "Osiris efflux"; and the water-vase always heads the processions of the priests in honour of the God. 2...
V. The Main Source Of The Trismegistic Literature : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 99 V THE MAIN SOURCE OF THE TRISMEGISTIC LITERATURE ACCORDING TO MANETHO, HIGH PRIEST OF EGYPT HERMES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD The more intimate contact of Greek thought and philosophy with Egyptian lore and mystic...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 24 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE TRUE "LOGOS," AGAIN, ACCORDING TO PLUTARCH LXIV. 1. But, to speak concisely, it is not correct to consider either water or sun or earth or heaven as Osiris or Isis, or, again, fire or drought or sea as Typhon; but if we were to assign...
Ii. The History Of The Evolution Of Opinion : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 17 II THE HISTORY OF THE EVOLUTION OF OPINION THE CHIEF POINTS OF INTERROGATION We have now to consider the following interesting points: The early Church Fathers in general accepted the Trismegistic writings as exceedingly ancient...
Iv. The Popular Theurgic Hermes Cult : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 82 IV THE POPULAR THEURGIC HERMES-CULT IN THE GREEK MAGIC PAPYRI THE "RELIGION OF HERMES" That at one period the "Religion of Hermes" was not only widely spread, but practically supreme, in popular Hellenistic circles, may be seen...
Untitled : * This is the first volume of three of G.R.S. Mead's comprehensive survey of the literature attributed to the legendary Egyptian sage, Hermes Trismegistus. Title Page Preface Contents Poem I. The Remains of the Trismegistic Literature II. The History of the Evolution of Opinion III. Thoth...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 20 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], CONCERNING INCENSE LXXIX. 1. And must I also speak of the daily incense-offerings, as I promised, 1 the reader should first of all have in mind the fact, that not only have men [in general] always paid most serious attention to things...
Preface : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. v PREFACE These volumes, complete in themselves as a series of studies in a definite body of tradition, are intended to serve ultimately as a small contribution to the preparation of the way leading towards a solution of the vast...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 28 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE THEORY OF THE MATHEMATICI XLI. 1. Those, however, who combine with the above [considerations] of the Physicists some of the Mathematic [doctrines] derived from star-lore, think that the solar cosmos is called Typhon and the lunar...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 32 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], CONCERNING TYPHON XXX. 1. Osiris and Isis have, then, changed from good daimones into gods. While as for the dimmed and shattered power of Typhon, though it is at the last p. 305 gasp and in its final death-throes, they still appease...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 26 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE PROPER REASON ACCORDING TO PLUTARCH LIII. 1. For Isis is the feminine [principle] of Nature and that which is capable of receiving the whole of genesis; in virtue of which she has been called "Nurse" and "All-receiving" by Plato, 1...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 22 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], CONCERNING THE WORSHIP OF ANIMALS, AND TOTEMISM LXXII. 1. As for the [theory] that the Gods out of fear of Typhon changed themselves into these animals--as it were hiding themselves in the bodies of ibises and dogs and hawks--it beats any...
Xvi. The Disciples Of Thrice Greatest Hermes : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 457 XVI THE DISCIPLES OF THRICE-GREATEST HERMES PTA, SEKHET AND I-EM-ETEP (ASCLEPIUS) Budge, in his "Gods of the Egyptians" (vol. i. ch. xvi.), tells us that the Great Triad of Memphis consisted of Pta, Sekhet, and I-em-etep. Pt...
Poem : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. xvi Was he one or many, merging Name and fame in one, Like a stream, to which, converging, Many streamlets run? ...... Who shall call his dreams fallacious? Who has searched or sought All the unexplored and spacious Universe...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 30 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], CONCERNING OSIRIS AND DIONYSUS XXXV. 1. That, however, he is the same as Dionysus--who should know better than thou thyself, O Klea, who art Archi-charila 5 of the Thyiades at Delphi, p. 311 and wast dedicated to the Osiriaca before thou...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 18 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 255 IX PLUTARCH: CONCERNING THE MYSTERIES OF ISIS AND OSIRIS FOREWORD In the chapter on Philo we attempted to set before the reader some outlines of the central doctrine of Hellenistic theology--the sublime concept of the Logos...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 06 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE MYSTERY-MYTH 2. They say that when Rhea 3 secretly united with Kronos, Helios on sensing 4 it imprecated her not to bring forth in month or year. 5 3. That Hermes being in love with the Goddess, came to conjunction [with her]; then...
Vii. The Myth Of Man In The Mysteries : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 139 VII THE MYTH OF MAN IN THE MYSTERIES THE GNOSTIC TRADITION "But All-Father Mind, being Life and Light, did bring forth Man () co-equal to Himself." 1 So runs the opening paragraph of what we may call the soteriological part...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 02 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THE THEORY OF THE DAIMONES XXV. 1 1. They, therefore, [do] better who believe that the things related about Typhon and Osiris and Isis are passions neither of gods nor of men, but of mighty daimones, who--as Plato and Pythag...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 14 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], WHY THE PRIESTS ARE SHAVEN AND WEAR LINEN IV. 1. Now, as far as the "many" are concerned, even this commonest and smallest [secret] is hid from them,--namely, why the priests cut off their hair, and wear linen robes; for some do not...
Xiii. Plato. Concerning Metempsychosis : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 429 XIII PLATO: CONCERNING METEMPSYCHOSIS "And the souls vice is ignorance. For that the soul who hath no knowledge of the things that are, or knowledge of their nature, or of Good, is blinded by the bodys passions and tossed...
Title Page : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], THRICE-GREATEST HERMES Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis Being A Translation Of The Extant Sermons And Fragments Of The Trismegistic Literature, With Prolegomena, Commentaries, And Notes By G. R. S. MEAD VOLUME I.--PROLEGOMEN...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 10 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], p. 271 THE ONION AND PIG TABOOS VIII. 1. For nothing reasonless, or [purely] fabulous, or from [mere] superstition, as some suppose, has been incorporated into the foundation of the sacred operations, but some things have moral...
Ix. Plutarch. Concerning The Mysteries. Part 04 : * "Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1", by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], CONCERNING THE TOMBS OF OSIRIS 5. And not least of all does the belief of the Osirians--since the body [of Osiris] is said to be in many places--[suggest this]. 6. For they say that both Diochit is called Polichn, 3 because it alone h...
