A Secret History of Secret History, Part I

The Enneads

The Enneads

The Enneads is a towering achievement of late antiquity that reshaped the trajectory of Western and Near-Eastern thought, influencing everything from Christian theology to Islamic mysticism. Plotinus presents a bold metaphysical hierarchy—the One, the Intellect, and the Soul—arguing that true happin

Plotinus . Plotinos . Scilicet Plotini Enneades VI et Maximi Tyrii Dissertationes XI

Plotinus strips away the distractions of the physical world to reveal the singular, transcendent source of all being. The text documents the final philosophical ascent of a man who viewed his own body as a temporary, secondary image. You will encounter arguments that collapse the boundaries between

The Hermetic Corpus

Ott.lat.2074 is a breathtaking intellectual odyssey that bridges the gap between ancient Hermetic mystery and the rigorous structuralism of the Middle Ages. The text presents a world where the 'First Cause' is pursued through every available lens: the precision of Aristotelian categories, the negati

Problemata (Problems)

In this extraordinary synthesis of Neoplatonic philosophy and ancient medical praxis, Iamblichus presents the human body as a microcosm governed by the same harmonic principles as the stars. Moving beyond simple biography, the text offers a 'regimen according to reason,' tackling everything from the

The Enneads

The Enneads is a monumental achievement in Western philosophy, serving as the bridge between classical Hellenic thought and the burgeoning spiritual traditions of Late Antiquity. Plotinus offers a unique perspective on reality, viewing the physical world as a mere 'image of an image' while positing

The Enneads of Plotinus

The 'Plotini Enneades' is the foundational pillar of Neoplatonism, presented here in a historic 1460 copy transcribed by the renowned scribe John Skutariotes. Plotinus offers a transformative perspective on reality, arguing that the material world is but a shadow of the 'Intelligible Realm' and that

Plotinus, Enneads I-VI; Porphyry, Vita Plotini

This collection, organized by Porphyry, serves as a direct guide for anyone seeking to understand the soul's origin and ultimate return to the One. Plotinus treats philosophy not as an academic exercise, but as a practical path toward enlightenment. He argues that the physical world is merely a shad

The Pimander of Hermes Trismegistus

Marsilio Ficino’s translation of the Pimander introduces the concept of Prisca Theologia, the original theology that predates the classical world. The work argues that human beings possess a dual nature: we are physically mortal but spiritually divine. Through dialogues between Hermes and the divine

The Divine Pymander

The Divine Pymander is a foundational pillar of Hermeticism, offering a visionary exploration of how humanity can transcend the shackles of Fate through Gnosis. Translated by the legendary Marsilio Ficino for the Medici court, this text presents the 'Prisca Theologia'—a primordial wisdom that prefig

On the Mysteries

In this masterwork of Neoplatonic synthesis, Marsilio Ficino navigates the treacherous waters between Epicurean indulgence and Stoic austerity. He argues that the human soul is not merely a passenger in the body, but an indivisible spark capable of transforming physical sensation into intellectual '

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians

This work defends traditional religious practice against the skepticism of philosophers like Porphyry. Iamblichus asserts that the gods are not swayed by human emotions, but rather that rituals align the human soul with a pre-existing divine order. He defines the universe as a singular, living organ

Complete Hermetica (1505 Paris Edition)

The Complete Hermetica (1505 Paris Edition) is a profound synthesis of Western esotericism, offering a transformative vision of humanity’s place in the cosmos. Through the legendary dialogues of Hermes Trismegistus, the text argues that ignorance is the ultimate plague of the soul, while true knowle

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians

Edited and translated by the Renaissance visionary Marsilio Ficino, 'Mysteries of Egypt' brings together the most influential voices of late antiquity—Iamblichus, Porphyry, and Proclus—alongside the mystical revelations of Hermes Trismegistus. The text argues that divine knowledge is not a product o

Corpus Hermeticum with Pneumatica and Ocellus Lucanus

This text offers a rare synthesis of ancient mechanical ingenuity and the esoteric search for the divine. From Heron’s groundbreaking theories on the vacuum—which prefigure modern atomic theory—to Hermes Trismegistus’s meditations on the soul's ascent, the volume challenges the modern divide between

The Divine Pymander, Asclepius, and On the Mysteries

This monumental synthesis of Hermetic and Neoplatonic thought offers a radical roadmap for the soul’s ascent from the sensory 'multitude' to the intellectual 'One.' By weaving together the revelations of Hermes Trismegistus with the rigorous defenses of Iamblichus and the metaphysical depth of Procl

Pymander. Asclepius. On the Mysteries of the Egyptians. On Plato's Alcibiades, on the Soul and the Daemon. On Sacrifice.

This seminal volume brings together the core texts of the Hermetic and Neoplatonic traditions, asserting a unified lineage of 'ancient theology' (Prisca Theologia) that flows from Hermes Trismegistus to Plato. Readers will encounter bold claims about the human condition: that we are 'twofold' beings

Corpus Hermeticum and Plotinus' Enneads (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.9.9)

This rare collection documents the struggle of the human soul to recognize its divine origin while trapped in the sensible world. It presents the Hermetic tradition as an intuitive, performative realization of truth, contrasted against the systematic, dialectical path of Plotinus. The text argues th

Poimandres

This collection functions as a foundational guide for those seeking to understand the nature of God, the soul, and the cosmos. Hermes Trismegistus argues that the physical world is a veil, and that ignorance of one's own divinity is the ultimate human disaster. The text demands that you reject world

On the Mysteries (De Mysteriis)

This volume presents the definitive Neoplatonic defense of ritual as a tool for spiritual transformation. It shifts the focus from mere intellectual debate to the practical application of sacred symbols. Iamblichus posits that man exists as a unique bridge between the material and the eternal. The t

Poimandres

Poimandres is a foundational pillar of Western esotericism that posits humanity as a 'divine animal' caught between the material and the eternal. Purported to be the work of the legendary Hermes Trismegistus—a syncretic fusion of the Greek Hermes and Egyptian Thoth—this tractate offers a radical cos

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians

‘On the Mysteries’ stands as a monumental defense of sacred action over mere intellectual speculation, primarily centered on Iamblichus’s high-stakes rebuttal to Porphyry’s skepticism. The text presents a staggering ontological map of the universe, populating the cosmos with an intricate hierarchy o

Enneads (1580 Greek-Latin, Ficino trans.)

The Enneads

The Enneads represents the pinnacle of Neoplatonic thought, a monumental synthesis where logic meets mysticism. Through the lens of Marsilio Ficino’s Renaissance commentary, Plotinus’s work is presented as a 'philosophical bait' designed to lead the intellectual mind toward religious faith through p

The Enneads

The Shepherd of Men

Readers will find an argument that the world is a sentient, organized entity governed by divine justice. The author, Hannibal Rosseli, attempts to reconcile classical philosophy with the teachings of the Church. He posits that justice is the defining trait of humanity and that the soul's return to G

Divine Pymander. Asclepius

The 'Divine Pymander' and 'Asclepius' represent a breathtaking synthesis of Greek philosophy and Egyptian mysticism, offering a roadmap for spiritual regeneration. Attributed to the thrice-greatest messenger of knowledge, Hermes Trismegistus, the text presents a bold vision of a universe ordered by

On the Pythagorean Life (De Vita Pythagorica)

This work presents Pythagoras not merely as a mathematician, but as a semi-divine reformer who sought to align human life with the order of the cosmos. It details a rigorous path of purification through music, diet, and strict communal ethics. Readers will encounter a tradition that treats education

On the Pythagorean Life

This expansive 1815 collection serves as the definitive gateway to the Pythagorean tradition, weaving together the biographies of Iamblichus and Porphyry with profound scholarly commentary. Readers will encounter a Pythagoras who is part scientist and part shaman—a man who disciplined his soul throu

Life of Pythagoras (Iamblichus)

In this classic translation by Thomas Taylor, Iamblichus presents Pythagoras as a semi-divine figure whose 'Pythagoric Life' serves as a blueprint for human excellence. The text moves beyond simple biography to synthesize ancient mysteries from Egypt and Babylon with a rigorous ethical framework tha

On the Mysteries (Thomas Taylor trans.)

In this foundational work of Neoplatonic thought, Iamblichus (writing as the Egyptian priest Abammon) offers a powerful rebuttal to the idea that religion is merely a human invention or a series of emotional delusions. By framing divine knowledge as an innate, eternal part of the soul's essence that

Iamblichus On the Mysteries

Iamblichus 'On the Mysteries' is a monumental work of Neoplatonic philosophy that shifts the spiritual search from mere intellectual speculation to the experiential power of theurgy. Writing as the Egyptian priest Abammon, Iamblichus responds to the skepticism of Porphyry, arguing that the divine ca

Plotini Opera Omnia cum Ficini commentariis

Plotini Opera Omnia represents the pinnacle of Neoplatonic thought, blending the original 3rd-century mystical insights of Plotinus with the intellectual fire of the Renaissance philosopher Marsilio Ficino. This text serves as a rigorous bridge between the classical logic of Plato and the burgeoning

Three Short Works (including Life of Pythagoras)

This volume, meticulously edited by the legendary August Nauck, preserves the surviving fragments of Porphyry’s most personal and provocative works. At its core, the text challenges the foundations of ancient Greek religion, replacing blood-soaked sacrifices with a philosophy of internal purity and

The Enneads of Plotinus Vol. I

The Enneads of Plotinus, translated with poetic intensity by Stephen McKenna, stands as the foundation of Neoplatonism and a bridge between classical Greek logic and Western mysticism. Plotinus offers a bold metaphysical hierarchy—The One, the Intellectual-Principle, and the Soul—arguing that our tr

The Hermetic Writings, Volume I: Texts and Translation

This volume is a monumental reconstruction of the Hermetic tradition, presenting a world where philosophy is not merely an academic exercise but a literal means of deification. Scott challenges the notion that these texts are mere 'occult rubbish,' instead revealing them as the profound response of