Preface

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HARV
i
Thrice-Greatest Hermes
Thrice-Greatest Hermes
Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis
Being a Translation of the Extant Sermons and
Fragments of the Trismegisdc Literature, with
Prolegomena, Commentaries, and Notes
By
G: R. S. Mead
Volume I. — Prolegomena
London and Benares
The Theosophical Publishing Society
1906
AifnovFR- Harvard
IbEOLCKilCAL U3RAXT
DEC 27 1918
HARVARD Divinity School
I \ ^
Preface
Thsse 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 prepara- tion of the way leading towards a solution of the vast problems involved in the scientific study of the Origins of the Christian Faith. They might thus perhaps be described as the preparation of materials to serve for the historic, mythic, and mystic consideration of the Origins of Christianity, — where the term " mythic " is used in its true sense of inner, tjrpical, sacred and ''logic," as opposed to the external processioning of physical events known as "historic," and where the term "mystic" is used as that which pertains to initiation and the mysteries.
The serious consideration of the matter contained in these pages will, I hope, enable the attentive reader to outline in his mind, however vaguely, some small portion of the environment of infant Christianity, and allow him to move a few steps round the cradle of Christendom.
Though the material that we have collected, has, as to its externals, been tested, as far as our hands are capable of the work, by the methods of scholarship and criticism, it has nevertheless at the same time been allowed ungrudgingly to show itself the outward
VI PREFACE
expression of a truly \ital endeavour of immense interest and value to all who are disposed to make friends with it For along this ray of the Trismegistic tradition we may allow ourselves to be drawn back- wards in time towards the holy of holies of the Wisdom of Ancient Egypt. The sympathetic study of this material may well prove an initiatory process towards an understanding of that Archaic Gnosis.
And, therefore, though these volumes are intended to show those competent to judge that all has been set forth in decency according to approved methods of modern research, they are also designed for those who are not qualified to give an opinion on such matters, but who are able to feel and think with the writers of these beautiful tractates.
The following abbreviations have been used for economy of space:
0, £*.» Corpus Hermeticuni.
D, J. L.sMead (O. R S.X Did Jenu Live 100 b.c. 1 An Enquiry into the Talmud Jesus Stories, the Toldoth Jeschu, and Some Curious Statements of Epiphanius : being a Contri- bution to the Study of Christian Origins (London, 1903).
F. F. ^.»>Mead (O. K &), FragmenU of a Faith ForgoUen, Some Short Sketches among the Gnostics, mainly of the First Two Centuries : a Contribution to the Study of Christian Origins based on the most recently recovered Materials (London, 1900 ; 2nd ed. 1906).
(7.»Gaisford (T.), Joannii Stoben FloriUgium (Oxford, 1822X 4 vols. ; lo. Stob, Ee. Phy$. et Ethie. Lihri Duo (Oxford, 1850), 2 vols.
J7.»Hense (0.\ I. Stob. Anth. Lib, Teri. (Beriin, 1894), 1 vol., incomplete.
K. lir.=«The Virgin of the World" (K
3f.-Meineke (A.X Joh. Stob. Flor. (Leipzig, 1855, 1856), 3 vols. ; Joh. Stob. Ee. Phy$. et Ethie. Lib. Duo (Leipzig, I860), 2 vols.
P.-Parthey (G.X Hermdii Triifnagidi Pcemander ad Fidtm Godi- cum Manu Seriptorwn reeognovit (Beriin, 1854).
Plii(.=Pfttrizzi (F.X Nova d$ Univenit PhiloBophia (Venice, 1593).
P. S. il.="The Perfect Sermon, or Asclepius."
PREFACE Vll
IS. sBeitieiutein (R.X Poimandre$ : Studun zwr grieehiich-^gypiii'
d^en undfruckridUehen Literatwr (Leipzig, 1904). iift.«Richter (M. C. K), PhiUmii Judai Opera Omnia^ in Btblia-
(heca Sacra Pairum EocUtia Graeorum (Leipzig, 1828-1830),
8 vols. S. I. lf.=" The Sermon of Isis to Horua" IT.^Wachsmnth (C), lo. Stob. AnihoU)ffH Lib. Duo Priarei . . .
Ec Phy$. et BiMe, (Berlin, 1884), 2 vols.
G. R. S. M.
Chkusba, 1906.
Contents
Prkfacb