Poimandres
Poimandres (Greek: Ποιμάνδρης; also known as Poemandres, Poemander or Pimander) is the first tractate in the Corpus Hermeticum.
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Etymology
Originally written in Greek, the title was formerly understood to mean "Man-Shepherd" from the words ποιμήν and ἀνήρ, but recent studies on its etymology allege that it is actually derived from the Egyptian phrase Peime-nte-rê meaning "Knowledge of Re" or "Understanding of Re".[1][2]
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 [Ποιμάνδρης], Mind of all-masterhood; I know what thou desirest and I'm with thee everywhere.
Brian P. Copenhaver translation:[3]
- "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:[4]
- "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
- 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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