Anna van den Kerchove on the Hermetic Way in Antiquity
Anna van den Kerchove has made a major impact on the study of ancient Hermetism with her 2012 book La voie d’Hermès: Pratiques rituelles et traités hermétiques and numerous other publications.
Primary Sources
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
Pal.gr.64
In Pal.gr.64, Michael Psellos offers a masterful synthesis of Homeric epic and Byzantine intellectualism. Far more than a mere commentary, this work explores the heavy burden of divine sovereignty and the intricate psychological tensions that drive both gods and men. From the heights of Olympus to t
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
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 Plato and the Chaldaean Oracles
In this profound exploration of Neoplatonic thought, Michael Psellos offers a masterful synthesis of Pythagorean mathematics, music theory, and metaphysical cosmology. By dissecting the 'soul-generation' described in Plato’s Timaeus, Psellos argues that the soul is not a random occurrence but a meti
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
On the Mysteries of the Egyptians - Pimander - Asclepius
This volume serves as a primary manual for understanding the mechanics of theurgy and the nature of the soul. It moves beyond simple philosophy to outline how ritual acts as a bridge between the mortal realm and the intelligible world. The authors argue that the soul is not a prisoner of the body bu
Michael Psellos on Plato's Psychogony and John Kamateros on Astronomy
This manuscript represents a pinnacle of 11th-century Byzantine scholarship, merging the abstract metaphysics of Plato with the concrete precision of ancient astrology. Michael Psellos provides a daring commentary on the soul's composition, arguing that its essence is defined by harmonic ratios that
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
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
De operatione daemonum
De operatione daemonum offers a rare glimpse into the medieval Byzantine mind, where philosophy and the supernatural were inextricably linked. While the 11th-century monk Michael Psellus provides the eerie subject matter, this edition’s editor, Jean-François Boissonade, presents a bold defense of "b
On the Virtues of Stones
De Lapidum Virtutibus is a captivating intersection of Byzantine natural philosophy, classical philology, and sympathetic magic. Michael Psellos sidesteps the abstract theorizing of the 'Dogmatists' to offer an empirical catalog of gemstones used to treat ailments ranging from epilepsy to melancholy
Biblical Palimpsest with Inquisition Abjuration Documents
The Hermetic Corpus stands as one of the most provocative syncretic works in history, blending the legendary insights of Hermes Trismegistus with the foundational theology of early Christianity. It makes the bold claim that spiritual liberation is a process of 'gnosis'—a transformation of the mind t
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
Dialogue on the Operation of Daemons
This dialogue moves beyond theological speculation to present demonology as a form of natural science. Psellos claims that demons possess airy, material bodies subject to the same physical laws as animals and humans. He documents how these creatures sustain themselves, why they fear iron, and how th
Tzetzes' Allegories of the Iliad and Psellos' Allegories
In this provocative Byzantine commentary, John Tzetzes and Michael Psellos bridge the gap between ancient epic and scientific inquiry. They argue that the supernatural elements of the Iliad—from the divine fire of heroes to rains of blood—are not miracles, but natural phenomena and mechanical invent
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
Chronographia (Michael Psellus)
The Chronographia is a rare historical record where the author is both a high-ranking official and a trained philosopher. Psellus strips away the formal mask of the Byzantine court to reveal the raw human impulses driving the state. He documents the shift from the rigid, ascetic militarism of Basil
The Chaldean Oracles: Text, Translation, and Commentary
Ruth Majercik provides the definitive translation and analysis of the Chaldean Oracles, a collection of sacred verses attributed to Julian the Theurgist. She argues that these texts represent a shift from purely philosophical speculation to a lived, ritualized religion. By analyzing the interplay be