First tractate in the Corpus Hermeticum
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Poimandres (Greek: Ποιμάνδρης; also known as Poemandres, Poemander or Pimander) is the first tractate in the Corpus Hermeticum, named after its main character Poimandres, the nous of a supreme deity.
Etymology
Originally written in Greek, the title was formerly understood to mean "shepherd of men" from the words ποιμήν and ἀνήρ. For example, this is how Zosimus of Panopolis interpreted the name. Others, such as F. Ll. Griffith, proposed that it is actually derived from the Coptic phrase ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲣⲏ peime nte rē meaning "the knowledge of Re" or "the understanding of Re". Yet another theory is that the name ultimately derives from the name of the popular deified Egyptian pharaoh Amenemhet III, whose name was transliterated into Greek as various forms including Πορεμανρῆς. Poimandros (Ποίμανδρος) of Greek mythology was the son of Chaeresilaus and Stratonice.
Description
The character Poimandres can be considered to be a sort of deity, or attribute of God as nous or "mind" as expressed in the following translations.
John Everard translation:
- Then said I, "Who art Thou?"
- "I am," quoth he, "Poemander, the mind of the Great Lord, the most Mighty and absolute Emperor: I know what thou wouldest have, and I am always present with thee."
G. R. S. Mead translation:
- And I do say: Who art thou?
- He saith: I am Man-Shepherd , Mind of all-masterhood; I know what thou desirest and I'm with thee everywhere.
Brian P. Copenhaver translation:
- "Who are you?" I asked.
- "I am Poimandres," he said, "mind of sovereignty; I know what you want, and I am with you everywhere."
Salaman, Van Oyen and Wharton translation:
- "Who are you?" said I.
- He said, "I am Poimandres the Nous of the Supreme. I know what you wish and I am with you everywhere."
See also
- Hermes Trismegistus
- Hermetica, writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus
- Hermeticism, philosophical systems based on the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus
References
- ^ Bull, Christian H. (2018). The tradition of Hermes Trismegistus: the Egyptian priestly figure as a teacher of Hellenized wisdom. Religions in the Graeco-Roman world. Leiden: Brill. pp. 122–125. ISBN 978-90-04-37081-4.
- From Poimandres to Jacob Böhme: Gnosis, Hermetism and the Christian Tradition, pgs 47, 48
- Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a New English Translation, p 95
- Copenhaver, Brian P. (1992). Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a New English Translation, with Notes and Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-42543-3.
- Salaman, Van Oyen, Wharton and Mahé,The Way of Hermes, p. 17
External links
- Pœmandres, the Shepherd of Men – Translation by G.R.S. Mead, 1906.
- Poemander – Translation by John Everard, 1650.
- Pimander – Latin translation by Marsilio Ficino, Milano: Damianus de Mediolano 1493.
- The Theological and Philosophical Works of Hermes Trismegistus – translation by John David Chambers, 1882.
- The Corpus Hermeticum from Thrice Great Hermes: Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis, Volume II at The Internet Sacred Text Archive
- Ἑρμου του Τρισμεγιστου ΠΟΙΜΑΝΔΡΗΣ – Greek text of the 'Poimandres'
- Hermetis Trismegisti Poemander – Complete Greek text of Poemander and Latin translation, G. Parthey (ed.), 1854.
- Corpus Hermeticum – Critical edition and French translation; 4 vols.; eds. A.D. Nock & A.-J. Festugière. Paris: Belles Lettres, 1946–1954.
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