Ancient Wisdom, Digitally Reborn
The Ficino Society transforms ancient philosophy into living knowledge for the digital age.
The Ficino Society transforms 2000 years of wisdom into a living archive — preserving the past while enabling new research and interpretation through digital innovation.
The Society is devoted to the recovery and renewal of ancient knowledge. In the fifteenth century, Marsilio Ficino, under the patronage of the Medici, translated Plato, the Hermetica, and other works that helped ignite the Renaissance. Yet many of Ficino’s own writings, including his 1497 compendium De Mysteriis, remain untranslated. By digitizing and translating these texts, and feeding them into AI systems to expand future knowledge, the Ficino Society seeks to spark a modern renaissance in the study of hermetic and free thought.
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The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica at the Embassy of the Free Mind
At the center of the Society’s work is the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica, recognized by UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. This collection holds rare works on Hermetic philosophy, alchemy, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, Kabbalah, mysticism, magic, astrology, tarot, Sufism, Taoism, and more. It also preserves writings from Amsterdam’s freethinkers, including Spinoza, Coornhert, Adriaan Koerbagh, and Jan Amos Comenius. The challenge and opportunity before us is to make this vast collection accessible and useful in the 21st century without compromising its depth or integrity.
Visit the EmbassyThe Source Library
The Source Library is the digital extension of the Ficino Society’s mission, providing public access to these rare texts for scholars and AI systems alike. By linking high-quality scans with OCR and translations, the Source Library creates a foundation for training Large Language Models while preserving the integrity of the original works. Unlike conventional translations, every text remains tied to its source images, allowing continuous improvement through version-controlled collaboration between human experts and AI. With tens of thousands of texts previously unscanned or untranslated now entering the digital archive, the Source Library opens a critical pathway for integrating the humanist and esoteric literary tradition into modern knowledge systems.
Visit the Source Library
From Manuscript to Modern Consciousness
Trace the historical context and enduring significance of the Ficino Society’s work in preserving and illuminating hidden knowledge.
3rd–4th Century CE
Origins of the Hermetica
Early Hermetic writings appear in Greek and Coptic, combining Egyptian, Greek, and mystical traditions. These form the foundation of later occult philosophy.
Key works include:
Corpus Hermeticum (c. 2nd–3rd century CE) – philosophical and spiritual treatises attributed to Hermes Trismegistus.
Asclepius (c. 3rd–4th century CE) – dialogue on magic and divine knowledge.
Emerald Tablet (late antiquity) – foundational text for alchemy and Hermetic principles.
3rd–4th Century CE
Origins of the Hermetica
Early Hermetic writings appear in Greek and Coptic, combining Egyptian, Greek, and mystical traditions. These form the foundation of later occult philosophy.
Key works include:
Corpus Hermeticum (c. 2nd–3rd century CE) – philosophical and spiritual treatises attributed to Hermes Trismegistus.
Asclepius (c. 3rd–4th century CE) – dialogue on magic and divine knowledge.
Emerald Tablet (late antiquity) – foundational text for alchemy and Hermetic principles.
15th Century
The Medici Renaissance
The Medici family of Florence sponsors the recovery and translation of classical texts. They commission Marsilio Ficino to translate Plato, the Corpus Hermeticum, and other key works into Latin, igniting the European Renaissance.
Ficino the Translator
Marsilio Ficino completes translations of Plato, Plotinus, and Hermetic texts such as De Mysteriis. His work spreads esoteric and Neoplatonic thought across Europe, shaping philosophy, religion, and the occult sciences.
20th Century
The Embassy of the Free Mind
A unique library in Amsterdam grows to house one of the world’s most important collections of Hermetic, alchemical, and esoteric texts, now numbering over 25,000 rare works.
21st Century
The Age of AI
The Ficino Society works to close this gap by scanning and translating rare texts, starting with the Embassy of the Free Mind collection, and publishing them openly in the Source Library for global access.
The Ficino Society
The Ficino Society works to close this gap by scanning and translating rare texts, starting with the Embassy of the Free Mind collection, and publishing them openly in the Source Library for global access.
21st Century
The Age of AI
The Ficino Society works to close this gap by scanning and translating rare texts, starting with the Embassy of the Free Mind collection, and publishing them openly in the Source Library for global access.
The Ficino Society
The Ficino Society works to close this gap by scanning and translating rare texts, starting with the Embassy of the Free Mind collection, and publishing them openly in the Source Library for global access.
21st Century
The Age of AI
The Ficino Society works to close this gap by scanning and translating rare texts, starting with the Embassy of the Free Mind collection, and publishing them openly in the Source Library for global access.
The Ficino Society
The Ficino Society works to close this gap by scanning and translating rare texts, starting with the Embassy of the Free Mind collection, and publishing them openly in the Source Library for global access.
Digital Preservation Project
From Manuscript to Modern Consciousness
Join the Ficino Society in making rare works accessible to scholars and seekers through careful digitization and translation.