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Episode 8·April 14, 2019·intro

Esoteric Orientalism Part I: Ancient Barbarian Sages

When we talk about the origins of western thought, we are nearly always talking about the classical Greeks.

Listen on SHWEP20 sources in collection · 20 translated

Primary Sources

The Hermetic Corpus

Hermes Trismegistus · 1450 · Latin · 319 pages

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

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Reg.lat.1352

Hermes Trismegistus · 1450 · Latin · 432 pages

This manuscript is a monumental synthesis of classical literature and Hermetic philosophy, featuring the voices of Virgil, Servius, Apuleius, and the legendary Hermes Trismegistus. It boldly navigates the transition from the physical world of agriculture and apiculture to the metaphysical realms of

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The Pimander of Hermes Trismegistus

Hermes Trismegistus; Ficino, Marsilio (translator) · 1481 · Latin · 96 pages

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

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The Divine Pymander

Hermes Trismegistus (trans. Marsilio Ficino) · 1493 · Latin · 68 pages

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

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Complete Hermetica (1505 Paris Edition)

Hermes Trismegistus; Ficino, Marsilio (translator); Lefèvre d'Étaples (editor) · 1505 · Latin · 184 pages

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

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The Divine Pymander, Asclepius, and On the Mysteries

Hermes Trismegistus | Jamblichus | Proclus · 1532 · Latin · 237 pages

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

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

Hermes Trismegistus|Jamblichus|Proclus · 1532 · Latin · 336 pages

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

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The Chaldean Oracles

Zoroaster · 1539 · Latin · 34 pages

This text offers a rare, syncretic exploration of Zoroastrian oracles interpreted through the lens of Neoplatonic and Christian thought. It presents a universe structured in three distinct parts—the eternal, the immortal but generated, and the decaying—and positions the human soul as a mediator 'glu

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The Art and Science of the True Proportion of Attic Letters

Tory, Geoffroy · 1549 · French · 386 pages

In 'The Art and Science of the True Proportion of Attic Letters,' Geoffroy Tory reimagines the Roman alphabet as a 'microcosm' of human anatomy and celestial harmony. Rejecting the 'barbaric' scripts of the past, Tory utilizes a rigorous mathematical grid to construct letters that are as morally upr

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Poimandres

Hermes Trismegistus · 1574 · Greek-Latin · 168 pages

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

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The Shepherd of Men

Hermes Trismegistus · 1585 · Latin · 532 pages

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

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Philosophical Magic

Patrizi, Francesco|Zoroaster|Hermes Trismegistus · 1593 · Latin · 548 pages

Philosophical Magic is a monumental synthesis of esoteric traditions, curated by Francesco Patrizi to recover a 'pure philosophy' lost to time. By weaving together the Chaldean Oracles of Zoroaster and the sacred dialogues of Hermes Trismegistus, the text presents a universe that is a 'sensible God'

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Philosophical Magic: The Chaldean Oracles

Francesco Patrizi · 1593 · Latin · 530 pages

This text provides a bridge between ancient pagan theology and the Christian era by asserting that the oldest sages were actually practitioners of a high, holy religion. Patrizi challenges the Aristotelian status quo of his time by arguing that philosophy is inherently tied to theurgy and the animat

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Biblical Palimpsest with Inquisition Abjuration Documents

· 1610 · Greek · 197 pages

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

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The Telescope of Zoroaster

[Nerciat, Andrea de?] · 1796 · French · 218 pages

The Telescope of Zoroaster is far more than a manual of occultism; it is a technical restoration of ancient Persian wisdom designed to facilitate direct communication with the 'Pure Spirit.' Rejecting the 'puerile' arts of palmistry and card-reading, the author presents a sophisticated dualistic cos

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Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1: Prolegomena

G.R.S. Mead · 1906 · English · 514 pages

G.R.S. Mead’s 'Prolegomena' serves as an essential portal into the esoteric foundations of Hellenistic thought. Rather than viewing Hermeticism as a mere historical curiosity, Mead argues it is a direct continuation of the 'holy of holies' of Ancient Egyptian wisdom, preserved through the figure of

60% translated

Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 2: Translations

G.R.S. Mead · 1906 · Greek · 418 pages

G.R.S. Mead translates the core teachings of the Corpus Hermeticum to reveal a path toward ultimate reality. These texts define the nature of God not as a being, but as the underlying cause of all existence. They argue that human suffering is merely the result of ignorance. By mastering the art of G

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Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 3: Excerpts and Fragments

G.R.S. Mead · 1906 · Greek · 408 pages

G.R.S. Mead compiles the surviving fragments of Hermetic wisdom to show that true philosophy is indistinguishable from deep piety. He argues that the material world functions as a prison for the soul, a state of existence defined by birth and inevitable decay. Readers will encounter the ancient logi

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The Chaldaean Oracles

G.R.S. Mead · 1908 · Greek · 105 pages

G.R.S. Mead brings to life one of the most mysterious and influential texts of late antiquity, bridging the gap between Hellenic philosophy and Eastern mysticism. Through his unique Gnostic-leaning perspective, Mead decodes the cryptic Oracles to describe a universe governed by 'Iynges' (divine whir

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The Hermetic Writings, Volume 1

Walter Scott · 1926 · English · 648 pages

Walter Scott provides a rigorous investigation into the Hermetic writings, treating them as a coherent system of ancient philosophy. He strips away centuries of confusion to reveal a hierarchy where humanity serves as the essential bridge between the material and the divine. You will encounter argum

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