Renaissance Hermeticism and Late Paganism - Insights from a Real 16th Century Anthology

The Renaissance also saw renewed interest in ancient Hermetic and Pagan spirituality, religion ritual and philosophy. Though, just what kinds of texts were these Hermetic Mages actually reading? What ancient Pagan works would one study to become a Renaissance occultist? An interesting volume, first published in 1497, gives up a glimpse into the world of Renaissance interest into Hermetic and ancient Pagan sources. In this episode, I explore and discuss a 1577 edition of this text from my own collection.

#Hermeticism #Occult #Paganism

Read Plato like an ancient Neo-Platonist in this order: Alcibiades, Gorgias, Phaedo, Cratylus, Theaetetus, Sophist, Statesman, Phaedrus, Symposium, Philebus, Timaeus and Parmenides (from Iamblichus)

1497 Reading List:
https://archive.org/details/A335081/mode/2up

1) 'On the mysteries of the Aegyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians' by Iamblichus (250-325 CE) (Iamblichus de mysteriis Aegyptiorum. Chaldærum. Assyriorum);
2) 'Commentary on Plato's Alcibiades – on the soul and daimones' by Proclus (412-84 CE) (Proclus in alcibiadem de anima atque dæmone);
3) 'On sacrifice and magic' by the same author (Proclus de sacrificio et magia);
4) 'On deities and daimons' by Porphyrius (c 234-c. 304 CE) (Porphyrius de diuinis atque dæmonibus);
5) 'On dreams' by Synesius (5th century CE) (Synesius Platonicus de somniis);
6) 'On daimons' by Michael Psellus (1018-78 CE) (Psellus de dæmonibus);
7) 'The commentary on Theophrastos's On the senses' by Priscian (6th century CE) and Marsilius (Expositio Prisciani et Marsilii in Theophrastum de sensu. phantasia et intellectu);
8) 'An introduction to the Philosophy of Plato' by Alcinus (2nd century CE) (Alcinoi philosophi liber de doctoria Platonis);
9) 'On Plato's Definitions' by Speusippos, Plato's disciple, (407 BCE-339 BCE) (Speusippi Platonis discipuli liber de Platonis difinitionibus);
10) 'Maxims' and 'Symbols' by Pythagoras (560 BCE-480 BCE) (Pythagoræ philosophi aurea uerba; Symbola);
11) 'On Death' by Xenocrates (c. 396 BCE-34 BCE) (Xenocratis philosophi platonici liber de morte); and
12) 'On pleasure' by Marcilius Ficino (Marcilius ficini liber de uoluptate).

16th Century Reading List:
https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RXV75Y9aRPYC/mode/2up

1) 'On the mysteries of the Aegyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians' by Iamblichus (250-325 CE) (Iamblichus de mysteriis Aegyptiorum. Chaldærum. Assyriorum); https://universaltheosophy.com/tt/iamblichus-on-the-mysteries/
2) 'Commentary on Plato's Alcibiades – on the soul and daimones' by Proclus (412-84 CE) (Proclus in alcibiadem de anima atque dæmone); (see O’Neill translation)
3) 'On sacrifice and magic' by the same author (Proclus de sacrificio et magia); http://www.practicaltheurgy.com/proclus-on-the-priestly-art/
4) 'On deities and daimons' by Porphyrius (c 234-c. 304 CE) (Porphyrius de diuinis atque dæmonibus); https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/porphyry_sententiae_02_trans.htm - https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/porphyry_abstinence_01_book1.htm
5) 'On daimons' by Michael Psellus (1018-78 CE) (Psellus de dæmonibus); http://www.esotericarchives.com/psellos/daemonibus.pdf
6) 'Corpus Hermeticum, Asclepius' by Hermes Trismegistus (early c's CE) (Mercurii Trismegisti Pimander. Eiusdem Asclepius) http://gnosis.org/library/hermet.htm#CH

These translations are public domain but may not be reliable for contemporary academic use.