The Secret Teachings of All Ages (1928) - Page 10


ATLANTIS AND THE GODS OF ANTIQUITY Plato's Atlantis in the light of modern science—The Myth of the Dying God—The Rite of Tammuz and Ishtar Tammuz and Ishtar were ancient Mesopotamian deities associated with fertility, death, and resurrection.—The Mysteries of Attis original: "Atys" and Adonis—The Rites of Sabazius A nomadic horseman and sky god of the Phrygians and Thracians.—The Cabiric Mysteries of Samothrace Secret religious rites performed in honor of the Cabeiri, a group of enigmatic underworld deities..	33
THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF THOTH HERMES TRISMEGISTUS Suppositions concerning the identity of Hermes—The mutilated Hermetic fragments Sacred writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, covering philosophy, alchemy, and the nature of the divine.—The Book of Thoth—Poimandres, the Vision of Hermes original: "Poimandres"; often translated from Greek as "The Shepherd of Men," it is one of the most important texts in the Hermetic tradition.—The Mystery of Universal Mind—The Seven Governors of the World.	37
THE INITIATION OF THE PYRAMID The opening of the Great Pyramid by Caliph al-Ma'mun original: "Caliph at Mamoun"; The 9th-century ruler who first tunneled into the Great Pyramid in search of treasure and knowledge.—The passageways and chambers of the Great Pyramid—The riddle of the Sphinx—The Pyramid Mysteries—The secret of the Pyramid coffer—The dwelling place of the Hidden God.	41
ISIS, THE VIRGIN OF THE WORLD The birthdays of the gods—The murder of Osiris—The Hermetic Isis—The symbols peculiar to Isis—The Troubadours Medieval poet-musicians whom some esoteric traditions believe carried secret spiritual knowledge through their songs.—The mummification of the dead.	45
THE SUN, A UNIVERSAL DEITY The Solar Trinity—Christianity and the Sun—The birthday of the Sun—The three Suns—The celestial inhabitants of the Sun—The midnight Sun.	49
THE ZODIAC AND ITS SIGNS Primitive astronomical instruments—The equinoxes and solstices—The astrological ages of the world—The circular zodiac of Dendera original: "Tentyra"; An ancient Egyptian temple complex famous for its elaborate celestial ceiling.—An interpretation of the zodiacal signs—The horoscope of the world.	53
THE BEMBINE TABLE OF ISIS Plato's initiation in the Great Pyramid—The history of the Bembine Table Also known as the Mensa Isiaca, this is an elaborate bronze tablet featuring Egyptian motifs, once used as a key for studying ancient symbolism.—Platonic theory of ideas—The interplay of the three philosophical zodiacs—The Chaldean philosophy of triads—The Orphic Egg In Orphic mythology, the cosmic egg from which the universe or the first-born deity hatched..	57
WONDERS OF ANTIQUITY The ever-burning lamps—The oracle of Delphi—The Dodonean oracle Referring to Dodona, the oldest Greek oracle, where priests interpreted the rustling of oak leaves.—The oracle of Trophonius A Greek hero whose cave-oracle was famous for the terrifying experiences reported by those who entered it.—The initiated architects—The Seven Wonders of the world.	61