The Hermetic Writings, Volume 1

ASCLEPIUS

It may be translated as "the crowning discourse." It implies that this document is to be regarded as containing the most advanced teaching of Hermes and as representing the final stage of the pupil’s religious education. The discourse reported in it is "more divine than all things we have done before," says Hermes (ch. 1a), and he who has grasped its meaning will be "most full of all good things with his whole mind." In other words, he will have attained to complete gnosis (knowledge); he will "see God" or be united with God.

Below the Greek title stands the short title Asclepius, and this is followed in the manuscripts by the words, "This Asclepius is for me in place of the sun"—a note written by some admiring reader. The person who wrote it meant, "This dialogue is a source of light and life to me."

1a, 1b. Deus, deus... orsus dicere (God, God... beginning to speak). The narrative passage 1b, Tu vero... orsus dicere (You, truly... beginning to speak), has almost certainly been added by an editor, probably the person who joined the three documents together. The similar narrative passage 41a, at the end of the Asclepius, refers back to 1b and was presumably written by the same hand. In most of the existing Hermetica, the text consists entirely of speeches in direct speech and contains no narrative; in nearly all of them, Hermes speaks to a single hearer alone.

The lengthy footnote regarding the term teleios (perfect) explains that it does not imply an initiation ritual, but rather a completion of instruction, contrary to theories held by Reitzenstein.