Reflections on Lessing's Fragments (1786) - Page 4

A circular emblem for "Hermetic Philosophy." In the center, a white pelican is depicted "in its piety" An ancient symbol of self-sacrifice where a mother bird wounds her own breast to feed her young with her blood; in alchemical thought, this represents the "multiplication" stage or the selfless distribution of spiritual life, wounding its breast to feed its chicks. The pelican perches upon a crescent moon which sits atop a cubic white altar. The altar is decorated with a red cross and four red roses at the corners These are primary symbols of the Rosicrucian movement, signifying the intersection of the divine and the earthly. Above the bird, a golden sun radiates light. The background is blue, and the image is framed by a green border with gold lettering.

HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY

original: "PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA"

Octavo A book size designation where each sheet is folded to create eight leaves, usually resulting in a medium-sized volume A. XX 15?

Octavo N. 17 83.

Hermetic Philosophy: A tradition of knowledge based on the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, focusing on the relationship between the human, the cosmos, and the divine.
Octavo: A bibliographical term for the physical size of the book.
Shelfmark: A unique code used by a library to identify a book's location on its shelves.
Pelican in its piety: A heraldic and religious image used in alchemy to symbolize the sacrifice required to achieve the "Great Work."
Rosicrucian emblem: Symbolic imagery associated with the "Rose Cross" brotherhood, a secret society of mystics and alchemists.